Vandals hit neighborhood

By Leslie Wood
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Residents of one Gallup neighborhood wonder if they were the victims of a cruel April Fools' Day prank or if a recent rash of vandalism was a coincidence.

At least six cases of vandalism were reported along Mesa Avenue and Puerco Street on Monday morning. In most cases, the vandals bashed in vehicles' windows with baseball bats as they were parked by their owners' homes.

Authorities suspect the crimes occurred between 8 p.m. on Sunday and 8 a.m. on Monday, which coincides with April Fools' Day. Some area residents suspect the crimes were committed by a group of teenagers who may have planned the vandalism to coincide with the holiday.

Yolanda Travers-Lemmon, who lives along the 400 Block of First Street, said her SUV was damaged by the vandals. Travers-Lemmon routinely parks her vehicle along Mesa Avenue due to the lack of parking elsewhere.

"I feel hurt and mad at the same time," Travers-Lemmon said.

Travers-Lemmon is disgusted by the careless acts because she tries to better the community by volunteering for various charitable organizations and hosts a radio show that airs on KGLP.

"I take this personally because I try to contribute to this community," she said.

If the acts were committed by teenagers, Travers-Lemmon said she would like the opportunity to speak with the childrens' parents.

"I want to ask these parents, 'Do you know what your children are doing and why are they out in the middle of the nigh?' " Travers-Lemmon questions whether the city should instate a curfew for teenagers to curb the occurrence of such instances. Neighbors say the vandals also targeted a van that was designed for people with physical disabilities.

"This is deceitful, hurtful and unproductive," Travers-Lemmon said.

Anyone with information about the vandalism, is asked to call the Gallup Police Department at 863-9365.