Teens Likely to Blame for Summer Vandalism

For some neighborhoods in Mendota Heights, summer has brought an uptick in damaged mailboxes, broken windows and graffiti.

According to the Mendota Heights crime map, there were seven vandalism reports filed in May, and 10 filed in June. Only three were filed in April. Each report may include multiple incidents of damage.

“Yes, the vandalism incidents have been way up since spring time,” said Police Chief Mike Aschenbrener. “It has been widespread.”

Ivy Falls resident Angie Commers knows this firsthand. An early morning walker, she sees most of the damage before others have a chance to clean it up.

She counted eight mailboxes damaged along Woodridge and Arcadia Avenue the first week of June, and reported that the portable toilet in has been tipped over three times.

“(It’s) not earth shattering by any means, but frustrating to those of us that live around the park,” said Commers. “I actually witnessed three teenagers tip it one night, but police were not able to respond in time.”

Vandalism in the parks themselves has not become an issue at the city level, according to Assistant to the City Administrator Jake Sedlacek. He did acknowledge that portable toilets have been "a popular target" this year. The city is charged a standard service fee for cleanup by the vendor. 

Things like spraypaint and broken tables are fixed by city staff.

For resident Fred Washburn, the vandalism has hit close to home—twice. His schoolhouse-shaped mailbox was knocked over one weekend. The following weekend, it was ripped out and thrown across the street.

“(Police) were very supportive and they may increase the surveillance,” said Washburn. He added that an officer told him this volume of vandalism is more common toward the end of summer when kids are getting bored.

Police Chief Mike Aschenbrener provided some tips for cracking down on the annoyances and headaches of this type of crime, and it starts with reining in local teenagers with too much time on their hands.

“The vandals are nearly 100 percent of the time very local, and it is always a surprise to the parents who had no idea,” said Aschenbrener.

 Tips for reducing vandalism:

• Know where your kids are and who they are with.
• If you see or hear something please call 911 immediately. Dispatchers are trained to prioritize calls, so don't worry about calling for something minor.
• If something is damaged clean it up immediately to help prevent reoccurances.

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