Vandalism, Arson Unite Aptos Community

$2,000+ Offered as Reward for Finding Perpetrators

By Noel Smith

A community meeting was held on Thursday, December 4 at the Rio Sands Hotel in Aptos. The meeting was called by County Officials and was opened by County Supervisor Zach Friend. There were at least one hundred citizens attending to hear a comprehensive report on the events and the investigation presented by Sheriff-elect Jim Hart. Also speaking were the newly appointed District Attorney Jeff Rosell and Detective Billy Burnett who is heading the investigation. Four investigators have been assigned in addition to one from the District Attorney’s Office and another from the Aptos/La Selva Fire Department.

Aptos citizens were awakened on the morning of Sunday, Nov. 23 to the sound of Sheriff’s cars and Aptos/LaSelva fire trucks sirens in response to what seemed to many an attack on their community. Three vehicles were torched using gasoline and flares while another 17 cars and trucks were reported vandalized by breaking windows, headlights and taillights, and denting bodywork. All of the damaged and destroyed vehicles were parked on the street. There was no evidence of theft during the incident.

The investigation to date has found the gasoline cans that were used in the arson and a baseball bat used in the vandalism. They are processing other evidence such as home security videos, and are continuing to talk to people coming forward with possible evidence and testimony. The damage is estimated to be in excess of $100,000

To encourage the community to search for more clues and provide testimony, one citizen offered a reward of $1,000 which was immediately matched by Sheriff Jim Hart from a department fund for a total award of $2,000-plus as several others attending the meeting were heard to say they also wanted to contribute to the reward fund. These other private donations are being collected by the Sheriff’s department.

The timeline of the vandal’s attack on the Aptos Community seems to have started about 2 a.m. in the early morning and continued until 4 a.m. Vehicles from as far west as Oakdale Dr (almost to New Brighton) to as far east as Locke Dr. (Just off Clubhouse Dr.) were found vandalized the next morning. The arson took place sometime after 5 a.m. with two vehicles torched along Townsend Ave. in the 600 and 400 blocks and the third on the 200 block of Aptos Beach Dr. from where the first 911 call came at 5:29 a.m. followed by two more at 5: 36 on Townsend by which time the sheriff’s patrol was already on the scene of the first call with the Aptos/La Selva Fire department arriving just moments later.

During the period of vandalism between 2 – 4 a.m. there were a number of residents that heard noises such as breaking glass, cars being hit and loud voices but no one called 911. Even barking dogs did not seem enough to raise the alarm.

It wasn’t until a car was discovered on fire that someone called 911. Fortunately the fires did not spread to cause further damage.

Several lessons came out of this incident:

• Call 911 — Supervisor Friend said that having residents reporting suspicious or unusual activity is very important in stopping a crime in progress or in assisting to detect a pattern of criminal activity in helping to catch the criminal. Both Hart and Friend emphasized that it was the job of the emergency 911 dispatchers being called and the officers sent to the scene to determine if a crime was being or had been committed.
• Outside Lighting — Leave outside lights on or install motion detector activated lighting
• Parking Along Roadways — Park your cars in the driveway, a carport or garage.
• Security Cameras — Motion detector activated Video or stop-action cameras are very helpful in solving crimes.
• Don’t be afraid to come forward — Reporting suspicious activity or finding evidence of a theft or damage days or even weeks after the incident can be very helpful to the police in solving or prosecuting a case.

Due to the large area these incidents covered and the perpetrators seeming familiarity with Aptos, the officers are looking for young people that live or have lived in Aptos. It was also emphasized that this incident does not seem to have been a gang-related.

Anyone with information concerning these or similar acts of vandalism or arson please call Sheriff’s Detective Billy Burnett at 454-7611.