Police Probe Rash Of Vehicular Vandalism

By Andrew Gorosko

Town police are investigating a rash of apparently random vandalism that occurred early on the morning of Saturday, May 17, in which someone using a large blunt object caused thousands of dollars of bludgeoning damage to seven motor vehicles that were parked outdoors near residences in Sandy Hook.

Police Sergeant Richard Robinson said the vandal or vandals caused the damage sometime between 2:30 and 4:30 am. The incidents occurred in the general area of Walnut Tree Hill Road.

Police received 911 calls from five residences where a total of seven vehicles had been damaged. The vehicular damage was reported by residents living on Walnut Tree Hill Road, Crow’s Nest Lane, Farm Field Ridge Road, Shady Rest Boulevard, and Hearthstone Lane, police said.

Southbury police also are investigating a spate of vehicular vandalism that occurred in that town at about the same time in the areas of Lower Fish Rock Road and Hollow Swamp Road.

Newtown police are cooperating with Southbury police in the investigation.

Sgt Robinson said the damage done to vehicles in Sandy Hook apparently was caused by someone swinging a heavy, blunt object such as a baseball bat or a pipe. The vandal destroyed automobile windows and damaged the sheet metal on the vehicles, he said.

It appears that all of the incidents were the work of the same person or persons, the sergeant said.

Each vehicle was damaged extensively, with some of them receiving up to several thousand dollars worth of damage, Sgt Robinson said.

One resident reported that a dark automobile that had a loud exhaust system was spotted in the area at the time of one of the vandalism incidents, the sergeant said.

Sgt Robinson said he does not recall a local similar case of vehicular vandalism on such a scale.

In one of the incidents, an item of value was stolen, the sergeant said.

The police detective bureau has been assigned to investigate the vandalism spree, he said.

Police ask anyone with information on the vandalism to contact them at 426-5841 or 270-8888.