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BB gun vandals damage 44 more Lincoln vehicles

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by mark mahoney/Lincoln Journal Star

Monday, Jan 08, 2007 - 12:11:41 am CST

Dozens more Lincoln’s vehicles became targets for BB gun shooters over the weekend.

Police recorded 44 incidents between Saturday night and Sunday morning, increasing the total since Friday morning to 77.

The three-day damage estimate totals $19,375.

Jonah Piskorski’s 1999 white Chevrolet Tahoe, parked near Northwest Sixth Street and Oregon Trail, became one of those targets over the weekend, with three broken windows and $700 worth of damage.

“I’m disappointed,” Piskorski said. “I’m not really angry. I can’t really do anything about it.”

BB gun vandals shot out windows in five other vehicles in his neighborhood between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Lincoln last experienced significant BB gun vandalism in early October, when about 25 residents near 84th Street and Old Cheney Road reported damage.

Total damage then was estimated at $2,450.

Orlando Renteria, who lives near Northwest Fourth Street and Laramie Trail, was also a victim of this past weekend’s BB gun spree, as his 1994 green Dodge Caravan was hit.

Like with Piskorski, three windows, including the rear one, were shattered by pellets and Renteria’s van had damage estimated at $700.

Renteria’s car stereo was also taken. It was worth $50.

“I don’t feel bad for the stereo, but more for the windows,” Renteria said. “I put plastic and tape for now in the back.”

Piskorski said nothing was stolen from his vehicle.

“I’m glad they didn’t take anything,” Piskorski said. “I just had to clean out a mess.”

Northern Lincoln has been hit harder than elsewhere, but vandalism has occurred all over the city.

Over the past three days, 43 vehicles have had windows shot out  between 38th and 72nd streets, and Holdrege and Seward streets.

“It is extremely destructive to people’s property,” said Lincoln Police Capt. David Beggs. “It’s a significant loss to the citizens.”

Police have no suspects.

“When we have cleared these in the past, it’s been anywhere from teenagers up to (young) adults,” Beggs said.

Reach Mark Mahoney at 473-7237 or mmahoney@journalstar.com


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Rival B wrote on January 8, 2007 1:51 am:
" More BB gun regulation? Wouldn't fix the problem. This just goes to show that the issue is not about the weapon but about the user. We live in a society based on the trust that people will not be violent or destructive when they are unwatched. Seems like we are not doing a good job of instilling the respect in our children that would not allow such disregard for human decency. "
It would be logical that................... wrote on January 8, 2007 3:41 am:
" If they took Mr Renteria's stereo from his car, you would think that finger prints could be recovered from his vehicle, and then make a case against these vandals, and bring them to justice, unless of course they used gloves, but it's worth trying. "
disgusted wrote on January 8, 2007 7:24 am:
" I never have and never will understand why individuals vandalize other's property; I'm sure they'd really be upset if someone did that to their property. May God convict their consciences til they come forward and turn themselves in. "
Where is the police? wrote on January 8, 2007 8:06 am:
" One thing that no one is talking about is the graffiti that has been going on in the city of Lincoln. I know someone who works for the police department and guess what everyone, we finally have gangs in Lincoln, I am told that the gangs are fighting over territories right now and that is what all the graffiti is about. Lincoln may be turning into a small omaha. First graffiti, then vandalism, then drive by shootings. I sure hope the Mayor & the Lincoln Police department are ready for this. Because this isnt Mayberry anymore. "
sam wrote on January 8, 2007 8:30 am:
" When they catch these kids, they need to make them financially responsible for every single thing they've damaged and stolen. "
CS wrote on January 8, 2007 9:06 am:
" I used to live in Aurora, Ill. Gangs don't use BB guns. It goes from graffit to drive by, there is little ramping up from one to the other. "
Brittni wrote on January 8, 2007 9:13 am:
" BB gun regulations won't do any good. These vandals probably received the guns without proper acknowledgement. I agree with the idea of fingerprinting the car, someone who is low enough to do something like this is not likely to have thought that out. "
GMP` wrote on January 8, 2007 9:25 am:
" Lets hope their parents (if minors)have good home owners insurance, cause they should be liable for this mess. And those kids (even if they are over 21 they still have that mentality) should have to repay their parents, or earn the money to replace all of the damage they caused. Even if they get "jail" time, paying should be part of the punishment. "
Victim wrote on January 8, 2007 11:52 am:
" My window was one of the several shot out this weekend and I live in the 27th & Holdrege area. I would like to know what these kids are thinking and why they are doing it. It is not like they are taking anything, they just shoot out your window! I hope these kidds are caught and punished!!! "
bill wrote on January 8, 2007 12:09 pm:
" The problem with fingerprinting is that unless they have gotten in trouble in the past its highly unlikely that the print will be on any database. The real problem here is teens with little parental influence and lots of free time. Idle hands is a bad thing. "
Christina Walkinshaw wrote on January 8, 2007 3:08 pm:
" I live in the area of orgon Trail. We had my daughters vehicle hit on Friday night and she had her friends over on Saturday night and they attended a dance for their school and while they were at the dance one of her friends cars were hit outside of our home across the street from where my daughters car was parked. I just can't believe these kids don't have anything better to do. where are there parents? The rest of us working individules have to pay for what they think is probably is having fun. Believe me it wasn't fun cleaning up the glass and trying to find new glass and paying for their stupidness. I hope if anyone knows or hears anything about any of these vandilisms please notify the police. It will help everyone out that had a vehicle damaged this weekend. Thanks "
Vandalism wrote on January 8, 2007 3:29 pm:
" Stealing is wrong and illegal, but I understand the motivation: Free stuff. Vandalism, on the other hand, is puzzling because the criminal has no net gain from their property crime. "
JMK wrote on January 8, 2007 4:12 pm:
" And now we see the results of the don't punish the kids mentality. They have never seen consequences for their actions, so they have now respect for anyone and anything. It is way past time to be spanking the little ones to show what happens when they do wrong. and no, I am not referrign to the one doing this shooting, although a good solid knock upside their head wouldn't be a bad start. "
DJ wrote on January 8, 2007 10:35 pm:
" When the police chief takes the attitude that they couldn't pay for the damage anyway, I guess the vandals got a free pass to destroy what ever they want. Ya all feel safe in this town? I sure don't. If I ever catch them it will be more than a knock upside the head or a spanking. I couldn't believe the police chief's attitude, no wonder this town has the amount of crime it has!!! "

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