Durham police step up patrols after vandalism - WFSB 3 Connecticut
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Police are stepping up patrols and looking out for whoever is vandalizing street signs and damaging property in one Middlesex County town.
The vandalism in Durham goes back to last month and those in town said the cost to taxpayers is starting to add up.
"It's took bad that they don't appreciate that other people are paying for those things," said resident Beth Manley.
Armed with cans of spray paint, vandals tagged street signs, speed limit signs and even removed traffic signs off poles.
"It's frustrating to us when it happens," Laura Francis said. "It's not fair to taxpayers when a very few people did this amount of damage."
The town already replaced most of the signs, calling it a safety issue.
The town's Department of Public Works director said between materials and manpower, they've spent roughly $3,000 on repairing and replacing signs since June.
And their yearly budget is only $5,000.
"We have some neighbors who might have seen something and we're following up on leads," Francis said.
And it's not just signs. The town needed to repair a fence at Allyn Brook Park after vandals knocked part of it down.
Someone has also been using some sort of truck or four-wheel-drive vehicle to tear up a field at Wright's Farm.
A remote control airplane club uses the open space for its planes to take off and land, and huge ruts don't help.
"In years past we might get this once a season, but now it seems weekly," said David Kehoss of Cheshire.
Those behind the four wheeling and the sign stealing might see it as a good time and a prank, but those in town said it's pointless and is causing a problem.
"Probably kids with nothing better to do," Kehoss said. "It's just going to cause a ruckus and a headache for everyone."
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Connecticut State police.
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