Police arrest alleged vandals

SOUTH GLENDALE — Police this month wrapped up investigations into at least 10 vandalism incidents, including graffiti at the Adams Square Mini Park gas station, leading to the arrest of five Glendale boys.

The vandalism occurred from the beginning of November to mid-February in southeast Glendale, south of Broadway and east of Glendale Avenue, Glendale police said.

Damage related to the vandalism cost $2,500, said Det. Eric Meyer of the Glendale Police Gang Detail.

The five Glendale boys, whose ages range from 11 to 14, were arrested in the past two weeks on suspicion of vandalizing facilities in south Glendale, including the handball courts at John Muir Elementary School, he said. The cases were sent to juvenile court, Meyer added.

Their names were not released because they are minors.

“It’s not gang-related — it’s tagging,” Meyer said.

Photographs from Glendale resident Arlene Vidor helped police link the incidents to the young vandals, south command area Lt. Brian Cohen said.

Vidor, an active member of the Glendale Historical Society, took the photographs in January when vandals scribbled graffiti all over the circa 1930s gas station at Palmer and Adams streets.

She immediately notified city and police officials about the graffiti.

“I am glad that they helped police,” Vidor said.

Cohen got the photographs from city officials and sent them to gang detectives, who launched an investigation.

Meyer identified various monikers taggers use to distinguish themselves from one another.

Meyer linked the monikers to two boys, who he said admitted to tagging the gas station. Damage to the station cost more than $400 to fix, Meyer said.

After talking to the boys, detectives linked three other teens to vandalism in the city, he said.

Detectives closed 10 graffiti cases as a result of the arrests, he added.

While the boys were acquainted with each other, Meyer said they do not belong to a graffiti crew.

The boys allegedly used cans of spray paint, liquid shoe polish and paint markers, materials that the boys told police they found or obtained from friends.