Rock-throwing vandals who have caused at least $100,000 in damage in Santa Cruz County have attacked many homes, businesses and vehicles in Scotts Valley and the San Lorenzo Valley — including a string of attacks in Felton this past week.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has posted a $1,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the havoc.
Craig Dean, whose Felton property was hit by the vandals Tuesday, March 23, has added another $1,000 to the reward and is looking to other business and property owners to do the same.
“I’m talking to businesses in the area that have been hit to see if they want to add money to the reward,” Dean, 57, said.
Dean’s building — leased to Taqueria La Escondida, next to San Lorenzo Valley High School — had several windows shattered by vandals early Tuesday morning.
The San Lorenzo Valley has been hit by such vandalism 19 times since January, including eight homes in Felton, sheriff’s Lt. Jim Hart said.
“It’s been quiet for the last 10 days since the Sentinel article,” Hart said. “But they started up again this week.”
The Santa Cruz Sentinel published a story about vandalism in the county March 9.
The most recent attacks included the front window of a home on the 4600 block of Highway 9 at 1:39 a.m. Tuesday, and the bedroom window of a home on the 300 block of Lake View Drive at 1:40 a.m. A vehicle on Lake View Drive also had a front window smashed by a river rock — the signature weapon in these crimes.
San Lorenzo Valley Middle School was hit by vandals the same night, resulting in $1,000 of damage to windows in the office, library and computer lab areas, school Principal Jeff Calden said.
Countywide, there have been about 130 crimes involving river rocks thrown through the windows of cars, homes and businesses in the past year, with 75 cases reported since January, Hart said.
The surge of rock-throwing vandalism began in Live Oak, and similar cases have been reported in Watsonville near the Summit, in the San Lorenzo Valley, in Scotts Valley, in Aptos and on the west side of Santa Cruz.
The common factor is the landscaping rocks used, Hart said. The round river rocks are the size of a softball or grapefruit.
Sgt. Mike Dean of the Scotts Valley Police Department said he knows of 16 river rock attacks in the city since May 2009, including seven since January.
“In Scotts Valley, it’s been mostly businesses and some vehicles,” Dean said.
Ralston’s Rod and Tackle on Scotts Valley Drive suffered $3,900 in of damage after vandals hurled rocks through the storefront window Feb. 4. Paws To Play, also on Scotts Valley Drive, had windows smashed the same night, with damage that will cost more than $1,500 to repair.
Dean said a car’s front windshield was shattered by a rock while parked at Old Scotts Valley RV on Scotts Valley Drive in late February.
“It’s all over the city, it’s not just in one area,” he said.
The Scotts Valley department has cross-reported the crimes with the county sheriff’s office and Santa Cruz Police Department.
“We’re really relying on people’s alertness to keep eyes and ears open and to contact us immediately after something happens,” Dean said.
Hart said the string of vandalism is uncommon, especially when it comes to people’s homes.
“It’s been very disturbing to residents,” Hart said, though he added that he’s confident the vandals will be found.
“I just hope we find them before a resident does. People are pretty angry.”
Because of the extent of the damage, Hart said, the culprits will be charged to the fullest extent possible.
“If they are adults, we’re really going to push for state prison,” Hart said.
Hart also noted the importance of reporting the crimes.
“I’m sure there have been quite a few more victims that haven’t reported incidences,” Hart said. “However, when we catch these guys, we’re going to go for full restitution, so it would benefit the victims to report this so they can get reimbursed.”
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