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Show Editorial . . . Get Tough on Vandals Much has been written and reported about vandalism-including editorials in this newspaper. Now, a report from the Utah State Board of Education shows that the average vandalism cost in each district in 1973 was $63,031. This was an increase of nearly $18,000 in a three-year period. While figures for last year were not compiled and available, it can be safely assumed that this amount is up again. Window breakage was the No. 1 target of vandals in school buildings. .Burglary is the second largest reported vandalism cause, followed by destroyed records, damaged equipment and strewn materials which may be classified as malicious mischief. Schools in this area suffer from the same general acts of vandalism. Last summer, a score of windows , were broken in Richfield High School by rock throwers. Last spring, a tractor was driven through the large overhead doors into the Richfield Junior High shop. Numerous break-ins into various parts of school buildings and then into offices are on the records. The saddest part of all is that this types of action is nothing less than malicious and in most cases, gains nothing to the offenders except what ever sick satisfaction it brings them. What can be done to combat vandalism? The state school board uft&ests..sGV.craL ways of, approaching the problem. Some of their answers are as follows: When apprehended, force the I culprits to pay the damage with money or work. Exercise high quality maintenance and repair damage immediately. Teach good citizenship to students. Promote an effort for citizens to take pride in their schools. Patrol grounds and buildings by school security guards or local police, both on foot and in cars. Install lights in remote and suspect areas. Install electronic burglar alarms. Fence the school yard. Exercise more care in locking doors and windows. Give students more responsibility for the care of the building. Keep lights on in the buildings. Screen windows, bar doors and install other special equipment for protection. With vandalism, law enforcement officers are dealing with sick minds, oftentimes filled with revenge. Only tight security and methods of combatting a crime with a strong-armed approach seem to have much influence. But perhaps the worst part is the thousands of dollars paid each year by the public through their taxes to repair the damage done by vandals in schools, as well as to other public property. Only a get-tough policy, combined with the use of as many deterrents as possible, will begin to show results Vn bringing this-- problem under control. |