News

Three college vehicles vandalized in one week

Three-college-jvehicles-vandalized-in-one-week

Jake Mrozewski

This incident was the golf cart with two broken windows, reported Sunday March 22.

In print | March 26, 2009

Between March 15 and March 22, three incidents of intentional damage to college-owned vehicles were reported to Public Safety. The first incident, which was directed at a golf cart found destroyed in the Crum Meadow and also involved damage done to a van found on campus, was reported on Sunday, March 15. The two other incidents, reported during the course of the following week, were directed at another golf cart and another van found on campus.

The most significant of the damages was to the first golf cart found in the Crum. According to Motor Pool Foreman Paul Rowe, the repairs, before the suspension, labor and cosmetics, will be $3,000. Both doors were broken off, the windshield wiper, mirrors and roof were broken, and an accessory fan inside the cart was ripped out. Half of the key to the vehicle was found broken in the ignition.

This incident was more than just a joy ride through the Crum, though, as the broken parts of the van were not sustained solely from driving.

“They left golf cart doors on the rocks and put the [side-view] mirrors on top of [the cart] and stones on top of [the cart],” Rowe said. “They scattered things and busted it up.”

The cart, which belonged to ITS and was used for Client Services, was deliberately torn apart and scattered throughout the area. According to Director of ITS Gayle Barton, rather than incurring the expenses of fixing the vehicle, ITS gave the cart to facilities.

In the process of stealing the golf cart, a headlight was broken on a facilities van. This damage is estimated at $35.

One week later, a golf cart that Media Services uses daily, incurred significant damage. This time, something was thrown through both windows of the golf cart, which was first noticed near Beardsley at 10 p.m. on Friday, March 20. Since Media Services, has needed the cart every day this week, they have not yet had the chance to take it to the shop and get a repairs estimate, Barton said.

Two days later, on Sunday, March 22, an employee discovered a Facilities Management van with a shattered driver side window.

In an e-mail, Director of Public Safety Owen Redgrave said, “the truck had been parked near the Service Building for the weekend. Nothing was reported missing from the truck’s interior.”
Rowe estimates that the cost will be $200 to replace the broken window.

According to Chief of Police Brian Craig, the borough police have not yet had much involvement with the investigation.

“Officer Kline [from the borough police] received a report of a golf cart stuck in the mud in the College woods near the train trestle,” Craig said in an e-mail. “Before he could respond to the call he was notified by Swarthmore College Public Safety that they had responded and were handling the incident. Officer Kline did not conduct an investigation.”

At this time, the Borough police are not involved in any of the investigations and no other vandalism to vehicles has been reported in the Borough.

Craig said that the Borough police are generally not involved with incidents like these, which are usually handled by Public Safety, although several years ago a utility vehicle was stolen and they received a report.

No witnesses have yet come forward with information.

Anyone with tips should directly contact Public Safety. Further coverage will be available online as updates become available.