Alderman John Marini wants the Board of Aldermen to call a special meeting to discuss the wave of vandalism.
He wants members of the police department and the police commission to attend the meeting as well.
“Twelve cars one night and then twelve cars again? It’s obvious people think they can get away with whatever they want,” said Marini.
If nothing else, the discussion would show residents elected officials are listening.
“We need to address this immediately. We can’t afford to sit on our hands with something like this,” Marini said.
Marini sent a letter Tuesday to Steve Blume, president of the Ansonia Board of Aldermen.
In addition to the meeting, Marini wants the Aldermen to post a reward for information leading to an arrest. Marini said the city can offer a reward based on a section of the Ansonia Charter.
A dollar amount is not mentioned in his letter. That’s something the city officials will have to determine. Marini suggested at least $1,000.
“Criminal activity of any stripe must be met with swift and decisive action,” Marini said in his letter.
The following information was posted Tuesday at 12:16 p.m.
Vandals slashed tires on another dozen vehicles on North Cliff and Winter streets overnight, police said Tuesday.
The incident comes after a vandalism spree over the weekend that saw a dozen vehicles damaged — and an above-ground swimming pool.
The latest incident happened overnight Monday into Tuesday morning.
Police still don’t have a good description of the suspects, other than info obtained Sunday in which a resident described four or five people in the area, including one person with long hair.
“It’s frustrating because this is happening quickly. Whoever is doing it is coming out, doing the damage and disappearing. More than likely these people are on foot,” Cota said.
To that end, police are asking the public to call the department with information — even if you don’t think it is useful info.
“Usually what happens — someone is talking about this,” Cota said. “We’re assuming that (the suspects) are probably teens or people in their early twenties, because most kids younger than that are not going to be out at 2 or 3 in the morning.”
Over the weekend, the damage was concentrated on Ridge Road and Sunset Drive.
Police were planning Tuesday to go back into those neighborhoods to talk to more residents.
“A person might say ‘I saw a group of kids sitting out the other day, but they weren’t doing anything.’ Maybe they could tell us who they were, we can talk to them,” Cota said.
Police overnight are keeping an eye out as well — but the vandalism is on random streets, making it difficult for cops to catch in the act.
“We’ve got unmarked patrols and other things going on,” Cota said.
Anyone with information on the vandalism spree should call Cota at 203 – 735-1885.
A block watch meeting for Ansonia’s north end is scheduled to take place 6:30 p.m. tonight (Tuesday, June 21) at the Fred Ortoli Community Center at 70 Woodlawn Ave.
