Pellets damage downtown area

By Bill Schwingel

A rash of incidents involving BB’s or pellets caused damage in excess of $3,000 to vehicles and stores throughout downtown DeKalb last weekend.

Despite the many damage reports to the DeKalb Police, there is little information pertaining to any vandalism suspects.

“We’re aware of all those reports,” said DeKalb Police Lt. Richard Moudy. The police believe the perpetrators are old enough to drive and the crimes are related, Moudy said. “A lot (of the incidents) could have been caused by the same people. A good share are related.”

The police have no suspects and are hoping someone might have seen the perpetrators and will report them to the Fifth and Jefferson Streets Crime Stoppers Organization, Moudy said.

A display window at Honeygirl, 206 E. Lincoln Hwy., was struck by a BB or pellet, causing $350 damage Monday. “Someone must have seen something” since the vandalism occurred in daylight, said the manager at Honeygirl.

“The only thing you can do is turn it (a damage report) in to the insurance company,” said Michael Hardt, assistant manager of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 315 N. Sixth St. The Farm Bureau received $300 damage to one of its windows this weekend.

“Unless people call and give information to the police” the offenders will not be caught, Hardt said. The Bureau is fortunate there was not more damage or injuries, he said.

Crime Stoppers is an organization people can call to give information about crimes. A caller is given a number in order to remain anonymous, said Capt. Richard Wilkinson, a member of the organization. If the given information results in an arrest, the Crime Stopper Board discusses a reward of up to $1,000 for the caller, Wilkinson said. The Crime Stoppers phone number is 562-5000.