Pocono News Section

Vandals Strike East Stroudsburg

Vandals Strike East Stroudsburg - Friday, June 20, 2008 at 4:25PM EST

Reported by: Laurie Monteforte
Friday, Jun 20, 2008 @ 04:25pm EST
EAST STROUDSBURG - Graffiti vandals tagged dozens of businesses and homes in East Stroudsburg some time late Thursday night or early Friday morning. Police have photographed at least 60 different markings.

When Christina Jackson saw the graffiti on the side of her office she was angry.

"That's just not right. It really isn't," she said.

She had no idea just how angry she would become.

Christina and her friends followed the graffiti message that said "look at the mural." They walked to the mural down the street. What they saw broke their hearts.

They found Tracy Rowe in tears because vandals destroyed six years of hard work.

Rowe coordinated the mural project. She said, "Im speechless almost to see all these kid's hard work just perished by somebody else's selfishness."

Students and volunteers have worked on the project every summer for six years.

They expected to finish in about three years, now that they have to clean the mess, they expect it to take a year longer.

Marie Counterman said, "Aww. It's heartbreaking. We love our little town."

Crystal Street is just the start of the problem. Police tell us vandals did things like this on dozens of buildings throughout the East Stroudsburg business corridor.

As people cleaned up, many slowed down to watch. Some were so shocked, they slammed on their brakes.

While some people are angry, they also say if they clean the mess together, the community may become stronger.

Jackson said, "It's touching. It's like heartbreaking. Honestly it is."

Police are investigating to find out who the vandals are. They believe the graffiti could be retaliation for the arrest of several vandals caught earlier this month.