Zak Wood / Colorado Daily

Windows recently vandalized on the 3000 block of Center Green Ct. remain broken after nearly three weeks on the UCAR campus. Twenty-four windows were broken between April 26th and May 1st, causing about $75,000 of damage.[

Vandals used rock-slings to propel fist-sized boulders at the windows of the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, costing an estimated $20,000 in damage earlier this month.

These "cases have been assigned for follow-up; but as of yet, there's truly no follow-up . . . no known or identified suspects," said Officer Larry Gibson of the Boulder Police Department.

On the 3000 block of Center Green Court, 24 large, west-facing windows were shattered by rocks on two to three separate occasions within 24-36 hours of the first reported broken window, between the dates April 26th-May 1st, Gibson said.

Witnesses at the UCAR have since told police they saw three or more juveniles walking around the area with rock-slings.

The rocks found in and around the UCAR buildings matched those from the nearby rail bed at Foothills Parkway. "The closest proximity of the slinging was likely 50 yards away," Gibson said, "these kids were able to lob rocks at great height and distance to shatter the filmed, double-paned, tinted and tempered windows."

Although the outer panes were shattered, the inside panes still stand and UCAR is, "in the process of fixing them," saidStephen Sadler, director of safety and site services at UCAR.

One of the challenges the Boulder Police Department, as well as UCAR and the National Center for Atmospheric Research face is the fact that they, "don't know where these kids are coming from," Sadler said.

There are high bushes and trees that line both sides of the railroad as it passes through different areas of Boulder; it is through this dense "corridor" where the Boulder Police suspect vandals of slipping in and out of sight.

This high-traffic footpath is believed to be the probable launching point for the rocks responsible for the broken windows as well as an on-going problem with vandalized cars on the eastern side of Foothills Parkway.

Since 2003, the UCAR and properties owned by the NCAR have incurred nearly $70,000 in damages -- all windows -- as a result of criminal mischief, Sadler said.

The UCAR and NCAR are taking internal steps to increase security and are educating their employees on the vandalism problems to increase vigilance, which will hopefully make for a timelier reporting of instances, Gibson said.

The Boulder Police intend to, "have increased patrol presence . . . not just on their property but in those surrounding neighborhoods in plain-clothed and marked units," Gibson said.

There are apartments on the east side of Foothills Parkway, and housing on the west side of Center Green Court; however, Gibson believes the vandals are not likely to be from these locations.

"It's been (the vandalism) a focus for the past 2-3 weeks," Gibson said, "we want to let the community know that this is a heightened problem at this location and want to ask for any information that would help the pursuit of these investigations."

FYI

Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact Officer Larry Gibson at the Boulder Police Department at (303) 441-4485, or Detective Tom Dowd at (303) 441-3385; those with information who wish to remain anonymous should contact Boulder County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit online to Crime Stoppers.

Contact Victoria Barbatelli about this story at (303) 443-6272, ext. 113, or editor@coloradodaily.com.