SAND SPRINGS Police investigate a rash of vandalism cases

Sand Springs Police are looking for clues to help them get some vandals off the streets. Police tell KOTV; the troublemakers may have used a slingshot to break dozens of people's cars and homes over

Tuesday, July 3rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Sand Springs Police are looking for clues to help them get some vandals off the streets. Police tell KOTV; the troublemakers may have used a slingshot to break dozens of people's cars and homes over the weekend.

KOTV's Sean Mossman has been following the case and says police think a group of youngsters may have been looking for a quick thrill this past weekend. They say the crime is nearly identical to one pulled on another weekend in May. Both vandalism sprees have left police with very few leads. Joe Satoe was in shock Monday morning when he heard the news. He didn't hear anything outside when it happened, no one in the house did. "Well my son got up this morning to take his wife to work about seven. He came out and seen the window was busted and he woke us up and told us." Satoe is one of twenty or so victims of the same crime spree in Sand Springs this weekend. Vandals cruised from house-to-house, knocking out windows with small rocks and ball bearings. Police say they were likely shot from a slingshot.

This is not the first time something like this has happened in the Sand Springs area. The exact same type of vandalism spree took place on another weekend back in May. Sand Springs Police Lt. Dan Graham says the crimes are so similar, they're sure it's the same group of people. "The second group has stepped up. They're shooting out house windows, arch windows and the front doors. The plate glass in the front door and that type of thing." Phones at Sand Springs Police dispatch rang all day as even more victims discover windows shattered. The vandals did not discriminate between affluent and middle-class neighborhoods. They hit victims in all different areas of town. The damage reports total more than $5000 for this weekends activities. Adding the spree from May, the price tag in damage exceeds $10,000.For now those bills will have to be picked up by victims like Joe Satoe, who's already received an estimate for replacing his window. He'll have to shell-out $260, because his insurance won't pick up the cost. "No I've got a deductible, but it's $500." Most all of the victims of these crimes will have to pay out of their pockets for repairs. Most estimates fall well below standard insurance deductibles.

If you have any information about these crimes, you can call Crimestoppers at 596-COPS.