Police: Vehicles vandalized in Springfield ‘for fun’

Vehicles are being vandalized in Springfield apparently “for fun,” a police sergeant said Thursday in the midst of an investigation into more than 30 reports of smashed or broken car windows throughout the city in the past week.

It appears the person or persons behind the crimes is just doing it for fun, Sgt. Brian Peabody said.

“It didn’t appear to be for theft, it’s just for their own enjoyment — apparently nothing better to do so they just joyride and destroy other people’s property,” he said.

A BB or pellet gun appears to have been used to break the windows, Peabody said, from the damage on most of the cars.

Deborah Nichols woke up Thursday morning to calls from friends and family telling her that her new car, parked in front of her home on South Isabella Street, had a broken window.

“It’s very aggravating,” Nichols said as she swept glass from inside her car.

“I’ve made one car payment on this car, I just got the car, and for someone to do this — it’s got me a little upset,” she said.

Nichols’ car was just one of 20 reports of broken windows police received early Thursday morning.

From South Isabella Street to Madison Avenue, to four miles across town on Lawnview Avenue, according to police reports.

On April 5, police took more than a dozen reports on similar crimes, Peabody said, across town in the areas of East Cassilly and Cecil street and on Greenlawn, Hillside and Columbus avenues.

Victims don’t understand what would motivate someone to commit such a senseless crime.

“What did they gain by doing this? Did they get a thrill out of it?” Nichols said.

Nichols has insurance, she said, but has a high deductible so she will pay for the window repairs out of her own pocket.

“I’m glad I put a little back for a rainy day, but this isn’t how I wanted to spend it,” Nichols said. She said she and her neighbors don’t deserve what happened.

“We’re a good bunch of people in this neighborhood. We don’t bother nobody and then (criminals) come around and bother us,” she said.

Police are telling neighbors to keep their eyes open for suspicious vehicles.

Also, police are asking anyone who has surveillance video cameras outside the home to review their tapes or DVDs and call police if they see anything suspicious. Police can be reached at 937-324-7685.

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