Polson Police hunt for serial vandal

Police in Polson are continuing their efforts to catch a serial vandal who has now shot out 41 windows on vehicles, homes and businesses throughout the town.

According to Assistant Police Chief Clinton Cottle, the roughly three-week crime spree is beyond anything the department has seen in the past.

“We’ve had other isolated incidents, but nothing to this magnitude,” Cottle said. “It’s pretty much all over town.”

Five of the windows were broken early Monday morning on Fourth Street West, Ninth Avenue West, 10th Avenue West, Fifth Avenue West and Third Street West.

Cottle said the department has received reports of as many as 19 windows shot out in a single night since the spree began.

The vandal is using a BB gun or a pellet gun to shoot out the windows, and is causing the damage during the night. No estimate is available of the total cost of the damage, but Cottle said he has heard replacement costs ranging from $50 to $200 per window.

Although police have not instituted any extra patrols, officers are trying to concentrate their efforts in residential areas as their time allows.

The department is asking the public for help in nabbing the vandal by reporting any information on suspicious activity or on the crimes themselves by calling 883-8212 or reporting it to Crimestoppers at 883-7309.

In addition, anyone who witnesses any suspicious people or hears the vandalism occurring is asked to contact dispatch at 883-7301 or by calling 911.

No tips have been reported so far.