Vandal needs to learn from crime

By: centraljersey.com
As is the case in most incidents of vandalism and graffiti, the suspect in Montgomery – where a racial epithet was spray painted on the high school and anti-Christian symbols were painted on a Catholic church – is a male teenager.
Vandalism has been going on seemingly forever, but what prompts the individuals to take spray paint can in hand and have at it?
Anger? Probably. Revenge? Sometimes. Ignorance? Always.
In most cases, all three can be rectified. But the damage has already been done.
Some people to whom the insults were directed have already felt the hate, the fear, the knowledge that someone or some people in their community think less of them or their religion.
They are the victims. The walls of the school or of the church were damaged, but the buildings were not the victims. The people, the parishioners were the victims.
Police, at this point, have released the information that while searching for a teen and vehicle that had been reported missing they came across two 16-year-olds and the car at about 1:30 a.m. on Monday. In it, they said, were cans of spray paint.
Reportedly when asked about the paint the teens said they were on their way to vandalize the high school. And one of them allegedly admitted to the vandalism on March 5.
So we already know there is a judgment issue here.The county prosecutor’s office is reviewing the case to determine what charges to bring against the boy.
Police don’t release the names because the boys are juveniles. But police have said both attend the high school. So, their identities are no secret at the school or in the homes of the students or in much of the community.
But most of our readers don’t know who they are. They could be relatively good boys with loving families. Or they could be troubled teens.
In either case, if the boy does end up pleading guilty or is found guilty, he needs to face the consequences of his actions.
This act of vandalism has already produced discussions among students, school staff and members of the community, with one result being a decision to paint the word "community" over the location where the graffiti had been with the last five letters – "unity" – to be painted a different color.
Hopefully it will be a lesson learned by the vandal.