Large Number of Damage to Property Calls Concern Police

     Cramerton Police are investigating a rash of property damage reports that occurred over night.  Calls began to come in around 3:00 AM this morning reporting vehicle windows and windshields being busted out.  At the time of this release 26 reports of damage to property had been reported to the Cramerton Police.

     Other local areas were hit equally as hard.  Belmont Police have received numerous complaints as well as the Gaston County Police.  There does not appear to be any pattern to the damage.  Vehicles were damaged in all neighborhoods within Cramerton and no particular make or model of vehicle was targeted.  Along with the vehicles several residential windows were damaged as well.

     The damage appears to have been caused by person(s) shooting the windows with some type of air-powered weapon.  It has not been determined the exact style of weapon being used.  Earlier last week Cramerton Police took six damage to property reports with a similar style motive.  Those incidents were isolated to the Timberlake Neighborhood.

     “The Department is concerned with the massive number of incidents that have been reported” said Cramerton Police Chief Greg Ratchford.  “We commonly receive five damage to property reports a month. This is certainly not a usual event for us.  It is sad that someone doesn’t have anything better to do than to spend their time damaging things that people have worked hard to attain,” Ratchford said.  Total damage is estimated at $8,000.00.

     The Department will immediately increase the number of patrols in residential neighborhoods and officers have been assigned to work in various areas of town, in civilian style vehicles, in an effort to apprehend the offenders.  The increased coverage will remain in effect until the Department feels that it can reduce the manpower assigned to this task.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Cramerton Police Department at 704.824.7964. Callers can remain anonymous.