Maddi O’Neill
Editor-in-Chief
Seven student cars parked in the Gault Schoolhouse parking lot were vandalized on the night of Oct. 13 between 11 p.m. and 10 a.m. the next morning. Four cars suffered visible damage from rocks that were thrown though windows or used to dent the body of the vehicles. Three others were also targeted with rocks, although they showed no visible damage.
Of the damaged vehicles, at least two had windows smashed, and another suffered a large dent where a rock was apparently thrown but missed the window. The assailants allegedly stole small items after smashing through one car’s window.
Security and Protective Services (SPS) currently has no suspects, according to Director Steve Glick. Although there are security cameras set up at the Gault Schoolhouse, they are left over from the building’s previous owner and are not operational at this time.
“Obviously it’s going to come up for discussion as to whether we need to reinstitute having those cameras,” said Glick.
Glick plans to check the Beall Ave. security cameras for any evidence that they can provide, although they may be located too far from the Gault Schoolhouse to help the investigation.
“There’s a camera on Pine Street,” Glick said. “It’s kind of a stretch but I might be able to see someone running across the street.”
The damaged vehicles include a Honda Civic, which had its front passenger window smashed; a Nissan Altima, which had a large scratch and dent; and a Hyundai Veloster. Several other vehicles had small scratches. SPS could not identify the owners due to privacy concerns, but Hannah Sharfman ’15 identified herself as the owner of the Hyundai Veloster, which had its windshield smashed with a rock. Sharfman was called by SPS on the morning of Oct. 14 and informed of the situation.
Glick suspects that the rocks used to damage the vehicles may have been taken from a nearby drainage pipe.
The Wooster Police Department (WPD) has also been informed of the incident.
“WPD is aware, and they’re going to keep an extra eye on that area for a while and obviously we [SPS] are going to do the same,” said Glick.
Sharfman also reported that WPD officers appear to have taken fingerprints at the scene.
If any suspects are identified, their treatment will depend on their status as students or nonstudents. Nonstudents would be charged with theft and vandalism by the WPD and would be given a “no trespass” order by the College. Students would face a judicial board hearing in addition to any criminal charges they receive through the WPD.