Boys charged with defacing 19 vehicles at dealership

6/6/2003

Toledo police filed complaints yesterday charging two West Toledo boys - one age 12 and the other 13 - in connection with vandalism at Brondes Ford in the 5500 block of Secor Road in which the paint was scratched on 19 vehicles.

The 12-year-old admitted to damaging most of the vehicles with a rock May 12 after he left home because he was mad at his mother for disciplining him for not picking up after himself, detectives said.

The boys, sixth graders at Trilby Elementary School, each were charged in Lucas County Juvenile Court with one count of delinquency in connection with felony vandalism. Their delinquency hearings are scheduled for July 15. The charges were filed after police received a Crime Stopper tip. Police said the vehicles sustained about $8,700 damage and had to be repainted.

Last month, detectives issued a warrant charging a 16-year-old West Toledo boy with delinquency in connection with felony vandalism after he admitted smashing out a van window May 9 at the Brondes lot in the 5700 block of Secor.

In that incident, at least three new vans and a new pickup truck sustained about $2,700 damage, including dents to rear doors, a broken rear window, and hood damage. His hearing is set for June 26 in Juvenile Court.

In March, vandals caused $50,000 damage to nearly two dozen new cars, mostly Mustangs. Employees also reported a break-in at the business' temporary office, set up after an accidental fire last May.