Pumpkin-throwing vandals target east side motorcycles

[totalmotorcycle]

Pumpkin-throwing vandals target east side motorcycles
Thursday, October 26, 2006 - Bangor Daily News - By Nok-Noi Hauger - bangordailynews.com



BANGOR - Vandals are stealing pumpkins and using them to damage vehicles on the east side of Bangor, causing thousands of dollars in damage, Bangor Police Department officials warned Wednesday.

"It’s been going on since Saturday," Sgt. Bob Bishop said. "They’re taking the pumpkins and driving them right through the [vehicle] windows."

Two motorcycles and seven cars were targeted early Wednesday morning, bringing the total to more than 15 since the weekend, he said.

"It’s a pretty good spree," Bishop said. "They’re stealing the pumpkins and then using them to damage vehicles."

The vandals are focusing on the east side of the city and early Wednesday morning hit vehicles on Palm Street, Elm Street, Forest Avenue, Mount Hope Avenue, West Broadway and Lancaster.

A 2005 Suzuki Hayabusa, a 1300cc motorcycle owned by Palm Street resident Geremy Seifert, was hit, causing approximately $2,000 in damage.

"The whole instrument cluster was smashed and the windshield was smashed and the side mirror was broken off," he said Wednesday. "[The pumpkin] knocked over my bike and my roommate’s bike. One pumpkin hit my truck as well."

A 2006 Yamaha R-6, a 600cc motorcycle, owned by Seifert’s roommate received approximately $1,000 in damage, Seifert said.

Seifert said he works a late shift and was up until 2 a.m. and didn’t hear anything, but his neighbor heard the noise and called the police at 5:45 a.m. when she noticed the motorcycles were knocked over.

A 1995 Saab parked on Forest Avenue also was hit by a pumpkin early Wednesday, resident Adam Moskovitz said. The vehicle is owned by his girlfriend who slept over at his house Tuesday night.

"The windshield was all busted in," he said. "It looks like it’s pretty much caved in. And there is glass on the inside of the car."

All of the pumpkin vandalism since Saturday’s first report has occurred after midnight, Bishop said.

"They’re smashing glass," he said. "It’s bad enough when you smash them on the street."

When caught, the criminal or criminals will be charged with criminal mischief or a stiffer charge, Bishop said.

"It’s a high enough dollar figure, it would be considered aggravated criminal mischief," he said.

Aggravated criminal mischief is a Class C crime and carries a penalty of up to five years in jail and possible fines of up to $5,000.

Anyone with information on the vandalism is asked to call Bangor Police Department at 947-7384.