9 teens arrested in $50K Monroe vandalism spree
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MONROE, Wash. -- Snohomish County authorities believe they've finally put an end to a long, destructive vandalism spree, and some of the suspected culprits are as young as 13-years old.
Over the last seven months, burglaries and vandalism have taken their toll on the community of Monroe.
"We have several felonies and some misdemeanors," said Debbie Willis of the Monroe Police Department.
Police think they've finally been able to crack the case, and they're crediting a school resource officer for making the case.
"It took about two weeks to piece it all together," Willis said. "He had nine juveniles under arrest and several cases solved."
Investigators say the string of break-ins started back in December, hitting schools and vacant businesses and doing $50,000 in damages. The vandals were especially destructive, sometimes pouring milk into keyboards and telephone systems.
"Vandalism is so senseless, but in this case more so because it really hurt the young people in those schools," said Rosemary O'Neil of Monroe Public Schools.
In one case, they cut the wires to a surveillance camera outside St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church. According to police, the teens broke into more several locations more than once. The Galaxy 12 Movie Theater was targeted twice, and damage to the building was more than $30,000.
Officials say the teens used knives to slash seats and a sword to cut a major hole into a movie screen.
"When something like this happens, I know it's a financial burden and it's just a lot of labor to clean up," Willis said.
Police say the suspects are between the ages of 13- and 15-years old, and that includes the suspected 15-year-old ringleader.
"The 15-year-old is probably looking at seven to eight felonies," Willis said.
Over the last seven months, burglaries and vandalism have taken their toll on the community of Monroe.
"We have several felonies and some misdemeanors," said Debbie Willis of the Monroe Police Department.
Police think they've finally been able to crack the case, and they're crediting a school resource officer for making the case.
"It took about two weeks to piece it all together," Willis said. "He had nine juveniles under arrest and several cases solved."
Investigators say the string of break-ins started back in December, hitting schools and vacant businesses and doing $50,000 in damages. The vandals were especially destructive, sometimes pouring milk into keyboards and telephone systems.
"Vandalism is so senseless, but in this case more so because it really hurt the young people in those schools," said Rosemary O'Neil of Monroe Public Schools.
In one case, they cut the wires to a surveillance camera outside St. Mary of the Valley Catholic Church. According to police, the teens broke into more several locations more than once. The Galaxy 12 Movie Theater was targeted twice, and damage to the building was more than $30,000.
Officials say the teens used knives to slash seats and a sword to cut a major hole into a movie screen.
"When something like this happens, I know it's a financial burden and it's just a lot of labor to clean up," Willis said.
Police say the suspects are between the ages of 13- and 15-years old, and that includes the suspected 15-year-old ringleader.
"The 15-year-old is probably looking at seven to eight felonies," Willis said.
