Vandals damage dozens of cars at Napa hotels

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Tuesday, December 04, 2007

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By DAN ROSS
Register Online staff

Nearly four dozen cars were vandalized late Saturday night and early Sunday morning, causing tens of thousands of dollars in damage, according to Napa police.

The vandals "keyed," about 45 cars, raking gouges into the vehicles at the John Muir Inn -- 1998 Trower Ave. at Highway 29, Hilton Garden Inn -- 3585 Solano Ave., Napa Valley Marriott -- 3425 Solano Ave., and in the El Centro area.

Napa police said there are no suspects at this time to the vandalism that occurred after dark Saturday night and early Sunday morning.

38 comment(s)

common sense wrote on Dec 3, 2007 12:04 PM:

" Gee, if we would have cracked down and made examples out of the people we HAVE caught doing this stuff, it might have deterred these punks. But hey, they're probably just harmless kids having fun, right? 45 cars...that is at least 45 people (probably more) that will be telling their friends about crime in Napa. I suppose that is one way to reduce tourism. "

notpc wrote on Dec 3, 2007 12:19 PM:

" Crime in Napa is now directly affecting the tourists. You now have close to 100 people that have experienced a negative impression of Napa. I wonder when they are going to book their next vacation in Napa? To the perpetrators I hope somehow you are caught. "

Napanee wrote on Dec 3, 2007 1:09 PM:

" Security cameras are now needed every where in town. How sad, but true. "

Two Cents wrote on Dec 3, 2007 1:14 PM:

" Ahhh.. its finally starting to happen. The criminals in this town are now affecting the tourist.. WWTD... What will Techel do??? "

BILly wrote on Dec 3, 2007 2:10 PM:

" Ohhh, don't worry Napa's finest will get it done. They can barely pull someone over. Then let our wonderful DA's office get a hold of the case and blow it because they spend their resources on petty offenses. It pays to do crime around here. "

BILly wrote on Dec 3, 2007 2:12 PM:

" Oh yeh did this not happen a few months ago at Jimmy Vasser's car lot?? Good work NPD. No cameras at any of these businesses? "

skippert wrote on Dec 3, 2007 3:47 PM:

" Same night two skateboards were stolen from our garage (corner of Trower and Klamath) and one stolen Sunday morning. Three boards total. "

Local Yokel wrote on Dec 3, 2007 6:20 PM:

" This is shocking - 48 vehicles damaged! I still think that cops need to get out of their cruisers. Cruising is just that. Pairs of cops on beats can prevent a lot of this type of crime. This isn't vandalism, this is crime. I am very much in favour of widespread use of security cameras. If I am not a criminal then why is it violating my 'rights?' "

karenw wrote on Dec 3, 2007 7:40 PM:

" My new car was one of the 45. On Saturday we had been to Oakland and Berkley,no damage to my car in the bay area. I got home parked in my driveway on my safe street. I could not believe what happened to my car.It will cost me a $ 500.00 deductable.I hope we can catch these jerks. I will watch out for any strange cars or kids in the area. Let's get them. "

supernova8610 wrote on Dec 3, 2007 9:38 PM:

" As a Napan, if anyone does anything to hurt Napa or anyone in Napa, they in turn have hurt me, however indirectly it might be. So I hope those jackass little punks are caught. And prosecuted to the fullest extent possible. And they should be made to work and pay for the damage they have done, as well as apologize in person to the people they hurt. That, I think, will definitely serve as a nice deterrant. "

starling wrote on Dec 4, 2007 1:24 AM:

" SuperNova8610, I couldn't agree with you more! These punks definately need to pay for the damages to these vehicles and whatever costs are involved to prosecute also. It isn't fair that these victims should have to pay anything out of their pockets whatsoever. Even if they have insurance, they still have to pay the deductible as another poster stated who was one of the victims. It's like the lowlifes who infect people's computers with viruses to destroy them. The millions of dollars that it costs the victims are never recouped, even if the perpetrator(s) are caught. We need to find a way in this country to start compensating victims of these kind of crimes. Most of these criminals have no assets so alot of good suing them would do. We need some type of work program on top of prison and(or) jail time, that the proceeds go directly to the victims. These criminals should have to continue to work in the program until the claims are totally paid off. It's about time that victims stop paying to be victimized! "

robert wrote on Dec 4, 2007 7:45 AM:

" I really believe that names should be listed when vandals are caught. Now they get a free ride. They have no assets to make restitution to the victims. At the very least there should be shame involved when you sully the good name of your family. Maybe this would get more parents interestedd in exactly what their offspring are doing and where they are doing it. There seems to be so little consequence to anyone but the victims! I would vote for making them work for restitution, too. "

hudds5 wrote on Dec 4, 2007 8:08 AM:

" It's a sad situation when you can park your car in a Major city like San Francisco, Seattle, LA, and even Oakland, where the possibility of being vandalized is high, but doesn't usually happen when you visit tose cities for the day. However, in one night in Napa, 45 cars gets damaged in three different areas! And for us residents, we know of many other incidents that have taken place prior to this act of stupidity! Maybe the Police should try to be a little more proactive, and neighbors should atart watching out for each other. "

rocketman wrote on Dec 4, 2007 8:18 AM:

" Hey BILly...........17.4 square miles in this City and maybe 5 cops on duty during the time of the vandalism(s).....I guess they are supposed to be everywhere at all times....... "

someguyinnapa wrote on Dec 4, 2007 8:34 AM:

" This town has not changecd in 25 years. Maybe if there was something for the youth to do in this town they would not be busy vandalising our tourists. Remember when there was a roller skating rink, a video game house, and the cinedome didn't have over priced tickets to sit in moldy flood damaged seats and employees that didn't steal skateboards from patrons? Man, those were the days! Throw the book at those little punks! "

BILly wrote on Dec 4, 2007 8:54 AM:

" Hey Rocketman ..any more excuses??? They seem pretty busy doing things like wasting time. Heck, even if they did catch these people the DA would drop the case and focus on some local that J walked. NPD is anything but proactive "

napapop wrote on Dec 4, 2007 9:42 AM:

" I can't believe someone is blaming the npd for not being there to catch these scumbags in the act.Billy, come on now.And I didn't know that the alternative to being bored is destroying private property. Maybe we should put the blame on the parents for not knowing what thier kids are doing, not the npd.Wow, accountability, what a concept. "

rocketman wrote on Dec 4, 2007 9:42 AM:

" BILly........can't argue with someone that obviously doesn't like cops........ "

rocketman wrote on Dec 4, 2007 9:44 AM:

" and BILly........typical comments of blaming the cops and not the criminals....... "

petebo wrote on Dec 4, 2007 10:30 AM:

" Nothing for the kids to do in this town is the root cause. The movie theatre is almost 10 bucks now and most kids can't afford that. What else is there? The skateboard park is weak and the lInda Vista "activity" center is always closed down. The kids deserve something more but apparently, the people making the decisions have decided we need more hotels...and more tourists. What is more important? More cops are not needed as they tend to create more problems then they resolve. The truth is, Napa sucks and the kids show it. We are a selfish lot, and adults deserve what nthey get. We reap mwhat we sow... "

BILly wrote on Dec 4, 2007 10:35 AM:

" Look at the Napa Crime map and tell me there is not a problem. The police have all the tools and resources to catch these people and this is not the first time..like I said Vasser Chevrolet had a bunch of cars keyed on their lot. NIce security at the hotel as well.hmmm I guess it is my fault "

Hernandezza wrote on Dec 4, 2007 11:11 AM:

" Yes lets hold the parents accountable for their children's actions but lets face it Napa there isn't much to do for these youngsters. I can remember the days when we kids looked forward to an all night skate. If you just look a few cities away Napa powers that be Vacaville has a great deal of parks and recreation for their youth. Wonder what kind of crime rate they have? It's quite ashame I have to take my kids out of town to be able to have some good affordable fun with them. "

Make Napa Better wrote on Dec 4, 2007 11:17 AM:

" I can't believe people are blaming cops. Haven't you ever in your childhood done something completely stupid and are grateful you didn't get caught? I mean. I really do think these kids should be punished (my car was in one of the lots and luckily wasn't keyed)but what can the cops do? This isn't CSI. No one is going to come fingerprint all the cars and catch the criminals. What scares me is that there WAS security at one of the hotels! If a security guard can't get vandals how are patrol vehicles going to catch them in the city? Can we say needle in a haystack? I also do believe that Napa kids need something to do but, I've also seen what the soft kids now a days do to nice places. Ask the guy who used to own the skating rink why it closed... He'll tell ya. Like a scooby doo episode, it was those darn kids! "

Make Napa Better wrote on Dec 4, 2007 11:19 AM:

" Oh and there's one more thing, people are saying that "Oh no! It's affecting the tourists! What about the people that live here? No one seems to care about them. "

BILly wrote on Dec 4, 2007 11:56 AM:

" Between the hotels and the Vasser cars you are looking at $500k in damages... Get the fingerprints... do the investigation....do the policework.CSI ??? How long do you think it takes to key 46 cars? "

Local Yokel wrote on Dec 4, 2007 12:10 PM:

" I agree with posting the names of all kids who damage and deface property. Why shouldn't they be shamed? DUI's get posted for that same purpose. But only five cops on duty? Budget constraints no doubt. However, I do have faith in NPD to step up patrols and lets hope they can nab these people in the act. They have made some good arrests this year. Might not even be juveniles. "

roni8877 wrote on Dec 4, 2007 2:36 PM:

" I hope the parents have to pay all these damages and get placed on probation right along with these kids. Mandatory counceling for them as well. "

just sayin wrote on Dec 4, 2007 3:22 PM:

" I agree with the posters who say that we have to look at WHY people do these things. Bored? Envious? Angry? Eager to fit in with peers? All those things, I think. In the last month I've had my wallet stolen (in Vallejo) and been the "victim" of fraud in that a women who hit my car with hers then claimed that I hit HER. Our culture places too much emphasis on THINGS and WHAT we have, not WHO we are and HOW we treat others. That inconsideration and disconnect is what is at work here. We're all the problem, folks. Starts at home. "

Two Cents wrote on Dec 4, 2007 3:43 PM:

" Make Napa Better... just so you know.. the people who are making the remarks about tourists are being sarcastic! Trying to make a point that nothing seems to get done in this town when the locals complain, but god forbid the tourists and all the money they bring with them to spend in this town, are affected. Its a slap to these local politicians who are okaying all these hotels and the like geared toward tourists at the expense of the people who live here. "

Paddy wrote on Dec 4, 2007 4:52 PM:

" Parents, where are your children? How pathetic Napa has become in such a very, very, very short time. "

yamamama wrote on Dec 4, 2007 5:04 PM:

" I grew up in a town smaller than Napa, and I didn't hang out with the good kids in town. We didn't even have a movie theater or a skate park like Napa does. We were bored, so we drank and smoked grass, and we NEVER vandalized anyone's property. Boredom is no excuse for this kind of behavior. "

Mr. Burns wrote on Dec 4, 2007 5:29 PM:

" Comments like the one about wanting security cameras everywhere since "if I am not a criminal then why is it violating my 'rights?'" scare me. Am I really living among people with no respect for an individual's right to privacy? Would these people even stop at cameras, or would they like to see warrantless searches as well? C'mon, Yokel -- have some respect for the Bill of Rights! "

Local Yokel wrote on Dec 5, 2007 7:18 AM:

" Security cameras have been instrumental in catching both terrorists and child killers in the U.K. and other places where they are not quite so concerned about being caught on camera. I still say that if you are not a criminal then why is it a problem to be seen? Ooh, a camera recorded me walking downtown yesterday, my 'rights' have been violated! It also would have recorded me if I had slyly keyed an expensive car in a fit of jealous spite. "

JMB wrote on Dec 5, 2007 11:37 AM:

" At a hotel, there is an expectation of safety. Were your rights violated the last time you used an ATM, went into a bank, used a parking ramp, or went into a store or restaurant? When you finally become a victim, you'll be glad those cameras were there. "

Mr. Burns wrote on Dec 5, 2007 11:46 AM:

" Terrorists, child killers ... and petty vandals! Security cameras may not be that violating, but to people like Yokel they're just the first step. Where would he draw the line? "

steph wrote on Dec 5, 2007 3:32 PM:

" What rights do cameras violate, and what are your damages? "

opiniagirl wrote on Dec 10, 2007 10:32 AM:

" Bring on the cameras I have nothing to hide! "

sunny77 wrote on Dec 15, 2007 8:41 PM:

" jefferson market store window vandalized too on dec 13. "

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