Sheriff's investigators are looking for information on a spate of weekend vandalism in Darien that left several mailboxes damaged, a railroad crossing broken and a burned-out motor home in its wake.
Officials aren't sure if all of the incidents are related, but they suspect some of it is, and some of it may be tied to prior vandalism in the same area, said Chief Deputy Gordon Dibble.
Some time between 11:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:45 a.m. Sunday, a person riding in a car or truck and wielding an aluminum baseball bat struck six mailboxes on on Countyline Road and possibly another four on Fargo Road.
According to Dibble, Erie County law enforcement also reports eight mailboxes struck in the same time frame.
"This (mailbox vandalism) has been a problem as long as I've been in law enforcement," Dibble said. "Lately it's kind of plagued the area there."
Within the past few weeks, similar vandalism has occurred on Mammot Road and Seven Day Road, Dibble said.
Also, during the same time frame somebody smashed warning lights at the railroad crossing at Fargo Road and broke the crossing gates.
"This sort of crime is hard to solve," Dibble said. "It's the sort of thing where you're here today and gone in minutes."
There was also a mysterious motor home fire with no obvious cause on Countyline Road near Route 33, Dibble said.
While it occurred during the same time as the other vandalism, he said a fire doesn't really fit the pattern of quick-hit vandalism.
Dibble said that while this sort of vandalism is common in rural areas, it's frustrating for home owners who must then go to the trouble and expense of repairing or replacing mailboxes.
He said somebody in Darien must know who is responsible for the vandalism and he would encourage anybody with information to call the Sheriff's Office at (585) 343-5000.
