In July, the Plant City Police Department reported 27 vandalism cases — nearly double the 15 cases reported in July of last year.
Although there’s no definitive reason why the department has seen an increase in this type of crime, Sgt. Alfred Van Duyne, of the Plant City Police Department, has noticed that these rates tend to increase in conjunction with school holidays.
During the summer especially, students who spend time with their friends and lack structured activity might be more likely to get into trouble than they would during the school year, Van Duyne said. The department usually sees a spike in vandalism during this time, which typically decreases by October as students begin to get settled back into their normal school routine.
It’s not just graffiti, as some might expect. Most vandalism cases in Plant City typically consist of damage to personal property, such as a scratched car or a broken window. Vandalism can also occur subsequent to other crimes, such as breaking and entering.
“More often than not, incidents occur on private residences,” Van Duyne said. “It can happen at any time of the day. We try to stop things before they occur.”
Van Duyne said that vandalism is not exclusively juveniles but also can stem from domestic issues, especially between couples.
“It’s not consistent, but it’s generally an even split,” he said.
MISDEMEANOR PROCEDURES
If a vandalism case does involve a minor, officers will first speak with the victim to determine if they want to press charges. If they do, an arrest affidavit will be filled out, which a parent of the minor must sign. The parent must also accompany a minor to a juvenile court hearing before a judge. There, the minor is often assigned community service.
“Most people in the city are forgiving,” Van Duyne said. “We will write a report, but the victim might just want an apology.”
Even if the victim is willing to overlook the offense, Van Duyne and other PCPD officers want to ensure that the incident will not happen again. Officers explain to minors that their actions not only have negative consequences for themselves but also for their parents and the police department. When these incidents are reported, the police department loses time that they could be dedicating to more pressing issues in the city, Van Duyne said.
“One of the things we try to convey is that they are putting the parents in an embarrassing situation,” he said. “There are more one-time offenders. We do try to be proactive and thwart those types of things before they happen.”
Currently, the PCPD has a five-minute response time. However, officers still rely on citizens to be the eyes and ears of the city.
“The city is growing and we’re only going to be as effective as the personnel we have,” Van Duyne said. “When the sun goes down, a lot of things happen that a lot of people don’t know about. We rely on our citizens.”
VANDALISM DEPARTMENT TOTALS
May 2014: 28
May 2015: 20
June 2014: 20
June 2015: 14
July 2014: 15
July 2015: 27
TOP VANDALISM-RELATED CRIMES
– Damage to personal property, such as vehicles.
– Electronic damage
– Criminal mischief that occurs in conjunction with other crimes.
Contact Emily Topper at etopper@plantcityobserver.com.