SALT LAKE CITY -- An elderly couple has become the target of vinyl fence vandals -- not once, but three times over the last several months.
Salt Lake Police say the suspects are most likely a group of teens who think their behavior is harmless fun. The suspects’ criminal mischief could land them in juvenile court with a felony.
Police are convinced the vandalism is being committed by teenagers because of a similar act of vandalism a few years ago.
In May 2011, officers caught several girls from Brighton High School crashing through a fence in Cottonwood Heights.
Similar vandalism is happening but this time it’s on the east side of Salt Lake City.
Ruth, who didn't want FOX 13 to use her last name for security reasons, has lived in the same house with her husband for 28 years. They are the victims of the same type of criminal mischief, fence crashing.
The couple's white picket fence is cracked and broken in several places.
"We have apparently some teenagers who like to run into the fence and break them -- they've been back three or four times and just like to bash into the fence -- I can hear them when they come," Ruth said.
The Salt Lake City woman has been too slow to catch the perpetrators in the act so she has turned to the police and the public for help.
"We've had numerous reports of damage to vinyl fences," said Det. Greg Wilking of Salt Lake City Police.
Police say there's been at least half a dozen reported incidents of vinyl fence crashing on the east side of Salt Lake City dating back to December.
In some cases the damage to property is $250. In others cases it's up to $1,000, which makes the crime more serious.
"It's very disconcerting. Our dog got out and she doesn't know her way home too well and my husband had to go search for her," Ruth said.
The couple found their family dog. Now they just want to find the person or people responsible for thrashing their fence.
"It's mostly the worry of first of all why kids have to damage people's properties to have fun and what else might they do?" Ruth asked.
Police say someone out there knows something.
"We urge parents to listen to what their kids are saying. Check social media -- very often when people are damaging property like this they like to brag about it on social media and networks, so keep your eyes and ears open," Wilking said.
If you have any information call 801-799-3000.
