Los Gatos Police Nab Teen Vandals
Juveniles caught at Oak Meadow Park at 3:15am
Two Los Gatos High School freshmen were apprehended last night in Oak Meadow Park after a rampage that left a drinking fountain, a pay phone, and other park ammenities damaged. As one Los Gatos/Monte Sereno police officer held a teen near the parking lot, two other officers tracked the second juvenile--a "J" in police lingo--as he tried to melt into the darkness by the Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad station. They caught the boy, who will turn 15 this year, in a matter of minutes.
Drinking fountain at park restrooms
One of the boys lives near Los Gatos Blvd., the other off Winchester, so the town park was about halfway between. They were taken to Police Headquarters and their parents were escorted there, as well. No word on the boy's motive other than boredom--the police do not release information about juvenile offenses or offenders. They were likely cited and released to their parents.
Clear plastic on information sign was smashed
The boys allegedly smashed the clear plastic protecting the information board, exposing the papers inside to the rain. The pay phone next to the playground was heavily damaged, as was the drinking fountain at the restrooms by the carousel. Trash cans were dented and tossed around, and several benches were overturned.
Overturned benches near the Billy Jones Wildcat train
In the midst of a severe winter storm, the winds were high but the rain had let up when the incident allegedly occurred. Perhaps some of the damage was related to the wind, or perhaps it was meant to look that way.
The pay phone's buttons were smashed in somehow
Uprooted sapling, dented trash can What do you think?
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Aldene 02/24/08 12:16 pm This is shocking. That someone would do this leaves me speechless and furious. Who's going to pay? They need to be punished big time. Mamzer 02/24/08 12:26 pm We should harvest their organs!!! Baxterlomas 02/24/08 2:15 pm Is this because we didn't do something "for the kids?" Are we certain that adults didn't do this and blame the kids? jack 02/24/08 2:22 pm Its sad I?ve seen it through my lifetime hear in Town. There's never a good answer in as why they do what they do. Some say it?s out of anger or hate toward what life is not giving them. Others say it boredom and the destruction that us as humans have deep in side of our selfs. Who knows why? Town Portieres get damage but it?s been done and hopefully now its put a stop to. I like to drive threw Town or walk and see it clean and neat as it use to be when I was young.
maria ristow 02/24/08 11:05 pm This type of vandalism is especially shocking in our town, as it occurs infrequently. For that we can be thankful. But it causes sadness and anger, and it raises questions. What were these kids doing out at this hour? What were they thinking? (or were they thinking???) What responsibility are their parents taking? Such destruction of public property offends the whole community. As such, I feel these kids need to repay the community and perhaps come to realize how much damage they caused that they are incapable of repairing. At the least, they should put in a serious number of public service hours. A few months of working on the town's parks might be helpful: weeding, planting, picking up litter and dog poop. Have them do something beneficial, and learn how it is to clean up after others as well. They should also accompany (and assist if possible) all repairs to the damage they wrought. If they can't fix it, they should see firsthand what it takes to fix everything, in terms of time and materials.
If the town can't enforce this type of service, the parents certainly can. BAD 02/25/08 10:59 am Hope the kids parents have to pay to repair the damage. travelplus 02/25/08 3:53 pm Those who do the crime will do the time. I say these kids need to pay for every ounce of damage they caused. Why should good citizens who do not have a criminal record suffer? These kids deserve hours of community service preferably at Vasona TheTruth 02/25/08 5:16 pm Maria is dead on. A few months doing community service for the Parks Dept should not only help repair the damage but also build a little bit of character. They can spend the days banging out the dents, fixing the bathroom and faucet fixtures, repairing benches and apologizing to numerous lines of people waiting for little train. Don Wolf 02/25/08 6:27 pm This is an opportunity to teach both the kids and their parents responsibility. The parents must pay every penny of cost to repair the damage, pay for the police work involved and pay for the supervision. The kids should do a couple hundred hours of community service working in the parks. Volunteers are always picking up trash and repairing benches, etc. Here is an opportunity for the kids to become good citizens. However, the parents are responsible for the cost and should pay for their negligence in allowing their kids out at that time of night. gfdecker 02/27/08 8:34 am Thye town should file sever claims and damages against the parents of these hoodlums. They should also be charged in juvenile court. Congratulations on the LG Policemen for being so alert. Gil Decker TheTruth 02/27/08 11:26 am Unfortunately, filing claims against the parents aren't going to do anything to the kids at this age. If the kids were younger, it might make a difference. Kids at this age already have an established personality and unfortunately the only thing that can't help these kids are some sort of rehab. Not Drug or Alcohol Rehab, but more of a therapy rehab. They need to learn how to respect others and gain respect. Of course this would be in addition to the punishment I was in agreement with earlier in this discussion. The parents might be good people for all we know, but made a few mistakes along the way. Everyone does. Mary Pope-Handy 02/27/08 9:51 pm Who knows what the situation with the parents is? (Though I admit, as the mom of two teens, my first thought was "how did those kids get out at that hour?") Service hours are a great idea. The kids need to make it right again. The service obligation will make an impression on them that should be lasting. Additionally, I'd like to see these kids in counseling. This is more than a "punishment" issue. It may also be a cry for help or a symptom of something bigger and far worse going on. Better to catch it now - for all concerned. |
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