43 BOATS VANDALIZED, $50,000 to $75,000 worth of damage done to property

By DORIS COOK - Staff Writer
Star Beacon

March 27, 2008 04:57 am

— ROAMING SHORES — When Bill Huber, general manager at Rockpoint Marina, 1 Marina Drive, arrived early Wednesday at the marina’s storage lot off Conneaut Terrace, he knew something was amiss.
“Sometime late Tuesday night or early Wednesday, there were 43 boats heavily damaged in the lot. Vandals had slit the plastic covers on the 147 boats stored there. There is $50,000 to $75,000 worth of damage done, from broken windshields to slit boat seats or burns on boat carpets,” Huber said, describing the damage.
The owners, Vintage Development of Willoughby, are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved. Village Police Chief Randy Rasmussen has gathered up some evidence left behind after being at the marina, Huber said.
The damage was done to a number of pontoon boats and runabouts. The sizes of the boats varied from 21 feet to 28 feet, Huber said.
“This is the first time we’ve had anything like this happen here. It certainly creates a situation where a lot of people are upset. Most (boat owners) have insurance coverage, and our company does, too,” he said.
Anyone having any information about the vandalism or the perpetrator(s) is asked to call the marina office (440 563-5662). Information will be kept confidential, Huber said.

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