HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980 04-24 Vandalism becoming more sophisticated, costly DISPATCH .. . .
Vandalism becoming more sophisticated , costly
By BETSY BECKER Woodbury and the North St. "What part do you want to Church, 2410 Stillwater Road, Maplewood Police Sgt. David tive to sending them to court or
t Staff Writer Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School play? I'm hearing you say you Maplewood, said vandals need Arnold told of that city's efforts letting them off with a warning
The sophistication of vandal- District 622 were represented. want to." some "tough love," not a slap on to work with some offenders be- and release,"he said.
..\0 ism has increased, Maplewood George VonDrashek, Districtthe wrist. fore they get into court.
p g What would be the way to ac- Joe Kryschyshen of the Wash-
Deputy Chief Tom Hagen told a 622 community education direc- tivate various community "BRING A CHILD up in the Arnold said: "We take them ington County Restitution Alter-
group of about 40 elected offi- tor, chaired the meeting. He said would have himgo,"the onlyafter theyhave fullyadmit- natives Program told of working
` cials, youth workers, policemen, that in his work on the YSB groups? way you g
pastor quoted the Bible. ted their involvement in at} with youngsters after they have
pastors and communityleaders. board of directors, he hears a lot Several ministers, a business-
offense. We couple this with res, been processed through the
about the problems of youth and man, a school board member District 622 School Board titution to the victim. Sometime% courts.
Y No longe said Hagen, do of increasing vandalism. and members of service groups believes Charles
is rsaid e we get involved with counseling He said the restitution re-
oaths merelysteal a car. volunteered for the groupafter
He told the audience: "I leaveby through the YSB."
s "AXES ARE taken to them. it to you. What do you want to they heard about various ap- a lack of respect in today's soci- quired must be a "fairly logical
Windows are put out. One recent do? Are you saying it's in good proaches to dealing with vandal-
\Nety. Youngsters usually are as- consequence a youth can see."
model car was vandalized then hands and you're walkingawayism. signed to some kind of communi- Sometimes, the restitution Police and youth workers told t service,he added.
in-
pushed backwards over a hill from it? Or do you want to devel- The Rev. Ed Wheatley, youth their audience of efforts to pre- Y volves direct repayment to the
and it rolled over on its top. op a task force? pastor of Gethsernano T.»theran vent and punish vandalism. "THIS GIVES us an alterna- See Vandalism,Page 2(E)
Hagen was speaking at a '-
luncheon
luncheon meeting Monday called
by the East Communities Youth
Service Bureau (YSB). The cities
of Lake Elmo, Maplewood,
North St. Paul, Oakdale and
2 (E) - St.Paul Dispatch Thur.,Apr.24,1980
Vandalism: Crimes are more costly
Continued from Page 1(E) r' something to be done. Ninety-
victim.This comes mainly from seven percent agreed that the
Y present system of leniency en-
a youngster's paycheck. s courages rather than
111P Iv'# discourages delinquency.People
SAID KRYSCHYSHEN: "We , $ „ m P ' want youths to be accountable."
stay away from collecting from m 8,
the parents. We are trying to
stress to the kids that they are He suggested encouraging
ones who are going to pay." ;- , ,, youths to turn in bragging van-
the
Other options, he added, are
dais. Rewards should beg used.
work service for their victims or Anonymity should be allowed.
" Probation should not be used,
the community. _ even for first-time offenders.
Hagen Hoffman Arnold Kryschyshen
Dick Borek,Woodbury Police- "Now,I know that may seem
School Liaison officer,told of a D.C. Hoffman, a retired busi- Committee. tough,but you ought to at least
preventative education program. nessman from St. Paul's East He told the community lead- do something, whether counsel-
He said he visits schools in the Side, is a member of St. Paul's ers: "We did a suryey on crime ing or a tour of a penal institu-
city two to four times a year. District 2 Crime Prevention The people out there really want tion.,"said Hoffman.