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Western Springs charges three with vandalism
Updated: December 16, 2012 6:42AM
WESTERN SPRINGS — Police have arrested three teens for a series of vandalism incidents at a vacant store, church and Spring Rock Park since the summer.
Two 15-year-old boys, from Western Springs and La Grange, and a 14-year-old Western Springs boy were charged Nov. 9 with criminal defacement after concrete barriers were found spray-painted Sept. 25 on the lower level of the park, on the 1400 block of Burlington Avenue.
“I’m confident this graffiti tagging trend has ended with the apprehension of these three youths,” said Deputy Police Chief Brian Budds.
The three aren’t members of a gang, nor was gang material discovered at the three sites, Budds said.
In addition, the two 15-year-olds were charged with trespassing and the defacement of the former Tischler’s grocery store, at Wolf Road and Burlington Avenue.
“One of the rear service doors was unsecured, and the defendants entered on a number of occasions since the summer and in the early fall,” Budds said. “While inside, they defaced some of the interior walls with spray paint.”
The 14-year-old boy also was charged with defacement of the Christian Reformed Church at 5140 Wolf Road between Oct. 21 and 24, when spray paint was discovered on an exterior wall and black marker was used on a church door.
“I’m very please we were able to solve these three cases, especially for the victims,” Budds said. “Hopefully, restitution can be made to help with the clean-up costs. It’s fair to say that would be several hundred dollars, if not thousands of dollars.”
The deputy chief said the arrests were the result of many hours of detective work and number of interviews at the Lyons Township High School South Campus in Western Springs for freshmen and sophomores.
“There was a significant amount of time since the incidents occurred until the arrests were made because of the time and effort made in preparing the arrests,” Budds said. “The three have been petitioned to Cook County Juvenile Court.
“When we encounter and arrest juveniles for mischief such as this, our ultimate goal is to do what’s best for them to get on the right path,” Budds said.
