Police watching for Arlington Heights vandals

Merchants south of downtown Arlington Heights are fed up with teen vandalism, and police promise to respond.

Lucia Biscaglio, who opened Piatti Pronti a year ago at 210 E. Grove St., 1/2 block east of Arlington Heights Road, says as many as 30 youngsters aged middle school through high school hang out in the area.

Vandalism she's experienced includes contaminating her kitchen by throwing raw eggs through an open door, spraying cola on just-washed windows, stealing decorations from a trellis in front of the store and breaking flower and herb pots.

The egg incident, that occurred at about 10:45 p.m. a few weeks ago, forced Biscaglio to stay at the restaurant until 1 a.m. cleaning up the mess. It also forced her to throw away supplies like pizza boxes.

Biscaglio accuses the young people of breaking wooden chairs against a nearby building, littering, blocking the sidewalk, drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana and tobacco.

"I've never had graffiti," she said, although she did say planters she had taped to an outside window sill were ripped off and arranged in the shape of a swastika.

"It's a lot of kids with nothing to do with themselves hanging out here. I think if the police catch one person and convict them, it's going to stop. As long as no one's getting caught they can get away with it."

While Biscaglio thinks police could have done more in the past, their response has been stepped up this week, and she is very pleased.

Nighttime patrols will be increased in the area, and officers will make it clear to any youngsters they encounter that there will be zero tolerance for breaking laws or ordinances, said Capt. Nicholas Pecora.

"The merchants have had enough, and they should not have to tolerate this juvenile behavior," he said.

Pecora said no one has identified any suspects to police.

Minors accused of less serious offenses can be dealt with in the police station or by a peer jury, he said. Eventually, if they accumulate several charges, they will go to court.

Other businesses in the area also report problems.

Jim M. Hassenplug, president of Arlington Security Co., 218 E. Grove St., said some young people celebrated Father's Day by smearing doughnuts on the windows of his storefront late that Sunday night. Another mess was created when vandals picked up newspapers delivered in the area and spread them over vehicles in his parking lot. Rain compounded the problem, soaking the sheets of paper.

Hassenplug installed security cameras in the area, but the vandals have not been identified.

At Northwest Metalcraft, 413 S. Arlington Heights Road across Grove Street, skate boarders' dangerous activities include jumping off railings and a rear second-floor deck, said Biscaglio.

"We love the kids," said Roxana Mayer, an owner of Northwest Metalcraft. "There's nothing in this world we wouldn't do for them. We give jobs to them, and we've never had a problems before. But these kids show no respect to anybody and are mouthing at the customers. We can't be hiring people to pick up their garbage every morning."

Biscaglio said there seems to be a new group of youngsters this year who are behaving worse than ones who hung out in the area last summer.

"Kids are taking control of businesses," she said. "It's nuts, it's crazy. Where are the parents?"

Jon Ridler, executive director of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce, asked that anyone with information call Crime Stoppers at (847) 590-7867. Tips made to the anonymous tip line carry a potential reward.