Rash of vandalism keeps NU police busy

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- New Ulm police had their hands full throughout the day Friday, taking a sucessive string of vandalism reports from several car owners on the north end of town.

The owners of a total of nine different vehicles reported vandalism to police beginning at 4:30 a.m. Friday.

Reports indicate that several tires were found slashed, windshields and rear windows were completely smashed out and several driver's side mirrors were broken off the vehicles.

The reported vandalisms happened as far south as Bianchi Drive and as far north as 19th North Street. They were mostly concentrated in the general vicinity of 8th North and Payne Streets.

Damage estimates weren't available at this writing and the relationship of the incidents to eachother is still unclear. Police reports indicate that NUPD has no suspects at this time.

The string started with the report of three slashed tires found on a 1992 Chevrolet pickup truck parked in the 800 block of North Garden Street at 4:23 a.m.

It continued when police took a report of a driver side mirror that was broken off a 1995 GMC Sonoma pickup truck that was parked in front of 800 North Payne St. at 5:38 a.m.

It kept going:

* The tires on a 1993 Honda Accord, parked outside 206 Bianchi Drive, were reported slashed to police at 6:30 a.m.

* The rear window on a 1984 Oldsmobile Delta 88, parked outside 800 North Washington St., was reported smashed to police at 8:15 a.m. The incident report indicated that police think the window may have been smashed with a baseball bat.

* The tires on a newly-purchased 1996 Ford Windstar minivan, parked outside a residence near 19th North Street and Broadway, were reported slashed to police at 8:58 a.m.

* The back window on a rented 2002 Ford Mustang coupe, parked outside 826 N. State. St., was reported to police at 9:06 a.m. The police report said the car is owned by Hertz Corp.

* The windshield on a 2000 Toyota Corolla, parked outside 714 North Spring St., was reported smashed to police at 9:47 a.m.

* The driver side mirror on a 1986 Buick Century, parked outside 827 North Spring St., was reported smashed to police at 11:30 a.m.

* The driver side mirror on a 1989 Dodge Daytona hatchback, parked outside 523 North Payne St., was reported smashed to police at 1:27 p.m.