Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008
Montgomery Village leaders are calling for help in solving the worst spree of vandalism to hit the community in at least five years.
Earlier this month, vandals spray-painted three community centers, tossed broken beer bottles and furniture into two pools and dumped several gallons of paint into one of the pools.
The vandalism came over a two-week period and targeted Montgomery Village Foundation-owned property. The culprits spray-painted anarchist symbols, possible insults to police officers and anti-government slogans.
Much of the graffiti appears to be of the same style and message, said Bob Hydorn, president of the foundation board. In all, the spate of vandalism has cost more than $3,000 in damage and repairs, said David B. Humpton, executive vice president of the Montgomery Village Foundation.
On Aug. 3, the Village Lawn Theater got hit with "major graffiti," Humpton said. On Aug. 8, most of the pool furniture and several broken glass bottles were thrown into the pool at the North Creek Community Center, which closed for most of the day. In the overnight hours of Aug. 17, the Lake Marion Community Center and its walking path were marred by profanity-laced graffiti.
There were two more incidents in the overnight hours of Aug. 19: the Nature Center at North Creek Lake was painted with graffiti, and oil-based paint, pool furniture and broken beer bottles were dumped in the pool at the Lake Marion center.
Foundation leaders have responded by changing the private security hours, and are looking at a number of other unnamed measures, Humpton said. County police met Tuesday with foundation staff.
Humpton believes a group of young people is responsible.
"We need the community's help to catch these kids," Humpton said. "… We hope that someone, without offering a reward, will do the right thing because this is costing everybody money and time. It's just unnecessary."
Anyone with information is asked to call the foundation at 301-948-0110, ext. 337.
