Someone is destroying and stealing town property, and they aim to find out who is responsible.

First hit earlier this month were the municipal golf course and the bus garage and grandstand at Crosby Park.

This week, town officials arrived to work Thursday and found that someone had destroyed about half of the flagpoles downtown and had made off with the American flags they displayed.

The poles, which were broken, were recovered in the downtown area, but the flags have not been found, according to Town Manager Robert Simpson. The flags were a gift to the town from the local American Legion Post, he said.

“Theft is one thing, but when you desecrate the flag, it's a step over the line,” the retired military man said, quickly adding that he does not condone theft.

Simpson said the vandals also overturned trash cans in the downtown and tore off red, white and blue bunting that was displayed on storefronts. Decorative barrels containing flowers remained unscathed, he said.

Police have some leads they are following in connection with the rash of vandalism and theft, according to Christine Pooler, Dexter police dispatcher.

Pooler said Friday that the investigation is very active.

Earlier this month, vandals caused several thousand dollars in damage to the greens on the 9th hole at the municipal golf course. Golf equipment also was taken during the incident, according to police. A few days later, the bus garage and grandstand at Crosby Park were illegally entered and items were taken. A chain saw, a grass trimmer and small power tools were reported missing from the two buildings at the park.

Simpson said that while some items were taken from Crosby Park, other pieces of town equipment remained untouched.

Also this month, about a half-dozen residents reported that their cars had been illegally entered and that money and other items, including a digital camera, were stolen.

A $500 reward is offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the damage and theft.

Anyone with information pertaining to these incidents should call the Police Department at 924-7622 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or 924-7322 after those hours.
"This content originally appeared as a copyrighted article in the Saturday, July 21, 2001 edition of the Bangor Daily NEWS and is used here with permission."