Vandalism is a difficult crime to understand

June 21, 2006

Of all crimes, vandalism is the most difficult to understand. What drives a person to deface or destroy someone else's property? Thievery and even violence are at least easier to comprehend, if not condone.

Petaluma seems to be in the grip of a particularly heinous spree of vandalism that is hitting at the heart of our small-town community. Last week alone there were three seemingly unrelated acts of major and senseless vandalism.

The most distressing was the damage to five historic imported stained-glass windows at St. Vincent Catholic Church. The windows were apparently broken by hunks of concrete thrown through panels on two consecutive nights. In addition, what police described as a "crudely made fire bomb" was found inside the church.

Also last week, two people were arrested for unrelated acts of major vandalism.

A 35-year-old man was arrested for allegedly knocking over planters, ripping out plants and turning over garbage cans in the downtown area in addition to damaging a restroom door at Oak Hill Park.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly knocking over planters and damaging vehicles, also in the downtown area.

This all comes after the field house at the Casa Grande High School baseball field was destroyed by arson last month.

It is difficult for rational people to understand the anger or twisted thinking that would lead persons to commit such destructive acts. They are an assault on not only the property owners, but on all of us who strive to make this community a peaceful place to call home.

We may never be able to make sense out of the senseless, but we can all help in the continuing battle against these destructive acts of anarchy. Someone knows who set fire to the Casa Grande High School field house, and someone knows who broke the windows at St. Vincent church. The police can't be everywhere, but if people step up and report what they see and hear, we can bring the vandals to justice, and send a strong message that vandalism will not be tolerated on our community.