Vandals hit senior center for 3rd time

GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. (WIVB) - For the third time, vandals have struck the old Nike Military Base on Grand Island and detectives say local residents are responsible.

Grand Island Supervisor Mary Cooke says vandals have done serious damage to the base on Whitehaven Road.

"Someone could get hurt or killed and I don't even think they're grasping the danger that they're putting themselves in," Cooke said.

The outside of the base, which later became a senior center that was eventually shuttered, has been tagged with vulgarities and anarchist symbols. And fires have even been started inside some of the buildings.

Cooke said, "Vehicle windows are being broken, graffiti is being placed on vehicles."

Adding insult to injury, the vandals used the town's paint to damage the buildings and vehicles. Investigators say footprints and tire tracks led to a neighborhood North of the scene. Erie County Sheriff's Detective Brian O'Hara believes kids are the culprits and are breaking windows to get into the buildings.

"We found some candy wrappers and other things on a picnic bench not far from there," he noted.

Det. O'Hara says the kids struck three different times. The last time an alarm scared the vandals off, but what's left behind is overwhelming.

"Just the amount of damage they're doing," he said. "I mean, they obviously have no respect for other people's property."

Crews have spent countless hours cleaning up - Cooke included.

"I mean, you just stand there with a wipe and you keep working on getting it off until it's clean," Cooke said. "And you throw the wipes out and start on the next one."

The cleanup and the investigation has cost taxpayers thousands of dollars. But after this last hit, Cooke is sure this won't happen again. Though she wouldn't elaborate, Cooke says the town has taken new security measures against further vandalism.

Detectives say the damage is so serious, the people responsible could be charged with felonies. A $1,000 reward is being offered for anyone who knows anything leading to an arrest. Call 480-4499 with your information.