MAHONING VALLEY Police expect thefts, vandalism to rise for Halloween

As the holiday gets closer, vandalism and theft reports go up, officials said.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
Inflatable vampires, stuffed black cats and carved pumpkins are finding their way into the yards and onto the porches of Valley residents. But as the decorations go up, so do reports of their theft, vandalism and destruction.
While most area police departments report little or no problems so far this year, officials acknowledge that stealing lawn ornaments and smashing pumpkins is a fall ritual, particularly among teenagers and young adults.
Officials in Salem, Austintown, Boardman, Hubbard, Campbell, Struthers and Liberty say they have yet to see reports of theft or vandalism this year, but expect they will start as Halloween gets closer.
"The night of Halloween is when we seem to have the most trouble with that," said Liberty Police Chief Anthony Slifka. "We make sure to put more officers out on the roads then to discourage it."
While some may think of it as harmless hilarity, Slifka said anyone caught stealing decorations or destroying jack-o-lanterns could face criminal charges.
Someone's property
"It's property, a thing of value," he said. "A person caught could be charged with vandalism or destruction of property. It's usually a misdemeanor charge, but depending on the value of the property, it could become a felony. And if you go on someone else's property, you can be charged with trespassing, too."
A dispatcher with the Struthers Police Department said officers there have not received any reports this year, but past years they've seen vandalism reports increase at Halloween and again at Christmas.
"Especially at Christmas," she said. "It seems anything to do with the baby Jesus is at risk or being stolen."
A spokesman at the Hubbard Police Department said the closer it gets to Halloween each year, the more reports officers get for smashed and stolen pumpkins.
"We find them smashed out in the roads a lot, so we clean them up the best we can," he said.
slshaulis@vindy.com