By Anu Prakash reports.
May 17, 2004

A Saline high school is facing a big cleanup bill, but it's not from storm damage. Vandals left the building littered with broken glass and spray paint.

Vandals broke over the weekend to destroy window after window and spray paint graffiti.

A teacher came to Saline Area High School Sunday morning and discovered the mess. Police were not exactly sure Monday where the vandals got in, but there was no question about how bad the damage was.

Broken windows and graffiti stretched from the administrative offices through the halls and on classroom doors.

The vandals may think what they did is funny, but no one is laughing.

"We're alarmed," parent Sabrina Gross told 7 Action News. "We're a school district that is looking to gain revenue, and it's frustrating when you hear about people committing a crime and causing more expenses for us."

Police suspect around $25,000 in damages to the school, and believe at least two people are to blame.

"Pranks are funny as long as they're not malicious and aren't costing people money or putting anybody in danger, but this is uncalled for," Saline Police Ofc. Michael Snook said. "It is excessive and is nothing funny."

The Saline Schools superintendent says the price tag will go well beyond $25,000, because that doesn't include getting rid of the graffiti or labor costs of fixing the windows. He is confident those responsible will be caught.

"You better be careful because we're going the get you," Supt. Sam Sinicropi warned. "We hope no one thinks of trying this again, but we will go after people and get the restitution that we should have from them."

According to Sinicropi, the custodial staff worked very quickly, and for the most part all the damage had been fixed Monday evening. As for suspects, Saline police told 7 Action News they are following some leads, but are hoping for tips from the public.