rhall@kalamazoogazette.com 388-7784
Several Galesburg business owners are frustrated after a spree of vandalism last week left at least eight businesses adorned in graffiti.
Sometime late Thursday or early Friday, a person or several people spray-painted the outside walls and windows of businesses along Battle Creek Street and Michigan Avenue, according to the Galesburg Police Department.
Three cars in the lot at Galesburg Auto were also spray-painted, Police Chief Richard Mau said.
Mau said the graffiti left on the buildings and vehicles were letters and symbols. A Kalamazoo County sheriff's deputy is assisting Mau's department in determining if there is any ``significant'' meaning to the symbols, he said.
Authorities were first made aware of the graffiti Friday morning when the manager of the Harding's Marketplace on Michigan Avenue reported that the store was vandalized, Mau said.
Dave Pardoe, who owns Grant's Antique Market on West Battle Creek Street, said the word ``Neo'' and some symbols were left on the side of his business.
For Pardoe, the discovery was discouraging. He said business owners in Galesburg's small downtown district have been plagued in the past by similar incidents, as well as by break-ins.
``And what it's going to cost me, I don't know,'' Pardoe said of the recent vandalism. ``More aggravation than anything.''
Pardoe and other members of the Galesburg Area Business and Community Association met with Mau this morning to discuss the investigation into the vandalism and ways to combat the problem.
Deloris Crittenden, president of the association, said members are planning to start a crime-prevention program and a crime tipline in hopes of reducing the incidents of crime and graffiti.
``We want to help if we can, or we want to be able to come up with some solutions to this,'' Crittenden said. ``We've really got to do something. Business is bad enough without them having ... thousands of dollars in damage done.''
Mau said police have yet to put an estimate on the amount of damage caused by the vandals. While authorities have no suspects, he said, police believe that a group of teenagers may be responsible.
Anyone with information about the vandalism can call 665-4200 or 383-8821.