Published: November 03, 2009 10:20 am      

Crime Stoppers offer reward to stop tagging, vandalism

Call it graffiti or call it “tagging,” it’s still a crime called vandalism.

Vandals spray painted graffiti on a wall at the Charles Komar & Sons distribution facility, 400 W. Chickasaw Ave., on Thursday night.

Spray paint vandalism occurs almost daily in the city, according to McAlester Police Det. Capt. Don Hass.

“Everything seems to be fair game for these vandals,” Hass said. “Driveways, fences, traffic signs and even drainage canal walls have been the targets of graffiti.”

Hass added that the graffiti does not appear to be gang-related.

“It's just a bunch of thugs with cans of spray paint doing this,” Hass said. He is asking anyone with knowledge about the spray paint vandalism to call the Pittsburg County Crime Stoppers.

In Kiowa, Police Chief Tony Runyon is asking for the public’s help in solving two burglaries that were committed on Thursday night.

“In the first burglary, the Jones Grocery Store in Kiowa was burglarized,” Runyon said. Taken in the burglary were several cartons of cigarettes, according to Runyon.

“In the second burglary, a Kiowa police cruiser was burglarized inside a secured lot at a Kiowa repair shop,” he said.

Taken in the burglary of the police cruiser was a dash camera, a radar speed detector and strobe lights, according to Runyon.

“The radar speed detector was later located nearby the repair shop, but the detector was damaged beyond repair. Rain that evening made it difficult to get any physical evidence from both crime scenes,” Runyon said.

No tire tracks, foot prints or fingeprints could be obtained from either crime scene, according to Runyon.

Runyon is asking anyone with any information on these burglaries to call Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers can be reached at 1 (800) 222-8477. Crime Stoppers offers rewards of up to $1,000 for information on crimes. Callers can remain anonymous and receive a reward for their information.

Both Capt. Hass and Chief Runyon urge the public to call Crime Stoppers with any information which can help solve crimes.