LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the community's assistance in tracking down the individuals responsible for a number of vandalism cases across the city that have resulted in thousands of dollars' worth of damage.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said the incidents, which began late last month, have resulted in damage to the Lakeport Library, the Pet Country store, Clear Lake High School and traffic signs on a city street.

The latest vandalism incident occurred late Tuesday or early Wednesday, when subjects completely smashed out a glass door at the Lakeport Library, Rasmussen said.

He said police believe that this crime is related to four other incidents of smashed windows and glass doors at both the Lakeport Library and the Pet Country store between Feb. 27 and March 11.

Rasmussen said the other similar incidents that also happened during the night or early morning included the following:

– Feb. 27: Glass door smashed at Lakeport Library.

– Feb. 27: Glass door smashed at Pet Country.

– March 6: Window broken at Lakeport Library.

– March 9: Glass door smashed at Pet Country.

In addition to these cases, Rasmussen said there have been other vandalism incidents during the same time span but it is currently unknown if they have any relation to the Lakeport Library and Pet Country incidents.

He said the additional incidents include:

– March 1: An unknown driver completely smashed three center roadway reflective pedestrian crossing signs on N. Forbes Street in front of the courthouse. This act is believed to be vandalism and not accidental.

– March 2: Unknown persons pulled a palm tree from the ground and broke a metal halide light fixture at Clear Lake High School.   

Rasmussen said he does not yet have final damage totals for all of the incidents, but based on early estimates it's believed that there has been at least $4,000 in damage to both public and private property.
 
“It is very unfortunate that we have persons out there who are getting pleasure out of destroying public and private property and costing public agencies, citizens and business thousands of dollars that now have to be diverted from other important budget resources that are meant to provide important services to the community,” Rasmussen said.

Police are hopeful that someone in the community has information that could help them identify the suspects in these crimes so that they can be held accountable, Rasmussen said.

“We will be continuing this investigation in order to identify the suspects,” he added.

If anyone has information regarding these crimes they're asked to call the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491 or send a private message to the agency through its Facebook account at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lakeport-Police-Department/176101292414821 .