LIGHTING PRODUCTS INC. Vandalism frustrates company official

By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Vandals are cutting into Lighting Products Inc.'s bottom line. In the past month, vandals have broken about 125 2-by-2-foot windows at the back of the company's Myron Street plant, purchasing manager Ed Hilin said Tuesday.
The company manufactures lights for vehicles such as motorcycles.
A police report filed about three weeks ago told of 60 windows being broken. Earlier this week, 24 more were broken.
In some cases, Hilin said, the company doesn't even file a police report after a window-breaking spree.
"It's cutting into profits," said Hilin, noting that it will cost about $12,500 to replace the glass.
The last bill was for $1,500 to replace 14 windows. This does not include the cost of cleaning up the mess.
Police Sgt. Lou Carsone said police are making "spot checks" at Lighting Products, but it's not always possible to make the checks with two cruisers on the road most of the time.
"It's pure vandalism. I hope the police are working to catch them," Hilin added.
Hilin said the damage is being done on the weekend. The company hasn't made the decision to station a security guard to watch for the rock throwers.
Some thought, however, is being given to erecting mesh over the windows to stop the rocks.
"Somebody's got a strong arm," the company official said. Rocks have gone through a window and landed 40 feet inside the plant.
"I can't believe somebody doesn't know what's going on," Hilin said, calling attention to nearby apartments from which the back of the building can be seen. "You don't do this in five minutes."
yovich@vindy.com