Vandals disturb cemetery
Grandview Cemetery employees arrived at work Thursday to find
damaged headstones, broken concrete vases and two city of Fort
Collins trucks with broken windows.
The vandals damaged Grandview Cemetery, 1900 W. Mountain Ave.,
on the night of Sept. 8.
According to Phil Carpenter, cemetery supervisor, 91 monuments
were pushed over and 33 concrete vases were broken.
“This is the most malicious (vandalism) I’ve ever seen,”
Carpenter said. “Vases were kicked off and smashed over other
monuments.”
The cemetery was also damaged by vandals 10 years ago, but not
to the extent of the recent damage. Teenagers were responsible 10
years ago, but so far no suspects have been named in connection
with the recent damage.
“Last time there was a big public outcry and a reward was
offered,” Carpenter said. “There is not a great amount (of public
outcry) this time. I think it’s because a lot of (the monuments)
were real old ones, which makes a difference.”
An investigation is still under way to determine who is
responsible for the damage. Rita Davis, spokeswoman for Fort
Collins Police Services, said it is difficult to find those
responsible unless there were actual eyewitnesses.
“There are lots of vandalism cases that occur,” Davis said. “A
lot to vehicles and private property.”
Davis said those found responsible for vandalism are usually
charged with criminal mischief.
Ernie Chavez, professor and psychology chair at CSU, said
alcohol is frequently involved when property damage and vandalism
occur. He also said young people who vandalize do so as a way to
express their anger and to get back at society.
“It was likely multiple people,” Chavez said. “It was quiet and
there was nobody around so they probably knew they were more likely
to get away with it.”
Chavez said vandalism is not an unusual thing for adolescents to
get into and those responsible were likely drunk or high.
“They probably did one and nothing happened, then five, then 20,
and eventually got to 90,” Chavez said. “It’s a thing to do when
you’re bored and pissed off.”
Carpenter said all the monuments are back in place, but there is
still no figure on monetary damages done.
Citizens with information about the vandalism are encouraged to
call the FCPS Collins Investigation Division at 221-6560.
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