Vandals have struck a neighborhood in northwest Cedar Rapids three days in a row. Police have responded to at least four calls in the Stoney Point neighborhood after residents discovered racially-charged graffiti painted on their car, mailbox or garage. Tammy Koolbeck is the latest victim in the rash of vandalism.
“My son left for school and he called me from the car and told me to check the garage door. We walked out and found the graffiti,” Koolbeck said. While other neighbors have managed to wash the markings off, Koolbeck said, for now she can only cover the graffiti with duct tape.
“It’s kind of a hardship, we have a garage door now that’s stained and can’t be painted until it gets warmer,” she said. Police suspect the vandal or vandals are likely teenagers. Sergeant Cristy Hamblin doubts there is any threat to people living in the neighborhood.
“We appreciate when the public calls us and lets us know when they do have damage, so we can focus on that area of town and see if we can find out who is responsible for it,” Hamblin said. Stoney Point residents say they’ve had costly bouts of criminal mischief before, but this has crossed a line.
“We live in Iowa, we live in the 21st century,” said Koolbeck, “I just don’t understand.”
By Jillian Petrus, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids