Vandals spray-paint, flood an apartment
SOUTH HAVEN | The property manager at Oxford Apartments, 785 Juniper Road, reported Tuesday that someone vandalized a vacant apartment, causing $10,000 damage.
The vandal or vandals entered through a kitchen window and spray-painted the walls throughout the apartment. There were several sexual phrases found painted on the walls.
Someone also plugged the bathtub and kitchen sink, then turned on the water. The drywall throughout the entire apartment sustained heavy damage, and the cabinets and carpeting were soaked with water. The bathroom mirrors also were damaged.
$800 worth of cigarettes stolen from gas station
PORTAGE | An official with Gilbert Mobil, 5439 Central Ave., reported Tuesday that someone burglarized the business and stole $800 worth of cigarettes.
In recent years, "smash and grab" cigarette thieves -- so named because they break into gas stations and grab cigarettes -- have been responsible for several crime sprees.
Hospital reports theft of 2 air conditioning units
PORTAGE | The Porter Hospital Rehab Center, 6040 Lute Road, reported Tuesday that someone stole two air conditioning units worth $5,000 total from the facility.
Police said thieves steal air conditioners to sell the coils to metal recyclers.
CENTER TOWNSHIP
TUESDAY
Drunken driving. John Hutton, 72, of Portage, was arrested on a drunken driving charge after Porter County police said he drove around a police car that was blocking traffic at an accident scene at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Ind. 130 and County Road 250 West.
CHESTERTON
MONDAY
Suspicious circumstances. Shirley Karpenter reported someone put sand in one of the toilets at her rental property in the 400 block of Broadway.
TUESDAY
Suspicious circumstances. Amen Corner Court resident Margaret Zinn reported someone tampered with the Comcast junction box in her front yard, disabling her Internet connection.
Vandalism. Someone vandalized a sign near the retention pond in Dogwood Estates, according to the homeowner's association. The sign bans recreational use of the pond.
Accident. Chesterton police Cpl. Antonio Alfaro, while clearing a call for service at 2 a.m. Wednesday, accidentally backed into a telephone pole that splits two driveways in the 300 block of Roosevelt Road. The accident scuffed the rear bumper of his police car.
PORTAGE
MONDAY
Burglary. Terry Avenue resident Joel Reynolds reported someone burglarized his home, taking an $800 television, a $200 television, a $200 watch and a $40 DVD player.
VALPARAISO
MONDAY
Attempted burglary. Academy Street resident Louise Fraze reported someone pried at her sliding glass door during an attempted burglary, causing $100 damage.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
TUESDAY
Theft. Utility Communications, 3701 Murvihill Road, reported a $100 catalytic converter stolen from a van.
ARRESTS
Tuesday to Wednesday
Battery | Eugene Joseph Jr., 42, 1321 Park Ave., Chesterton
Dealing marijuana, maintaining a common nuisance | Kyle Wiggins, 20, 2809 Village Lane, Valparaiso
Disorderly conduct | Christopher Stone, 38, 700 N. Waverly Road, Porter
Drunken driving | John Hutton, 72, 6511 Ohare Ave., Portage; Carole Gallegos, 39, 698 N. County Road 50 West, Valparaiso; Peter Pall, 28, 1114 Camelot Manor, Portage
Drunken driving, possession of marijuana, driving while suspended | Dimitrius Figueroa, 26, Lake Station
Failure to appear | Phillip Krueger Jr., 43, Westville; Brad Flores, 30, 6401 Monument Ave., Portage
Possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, drunken driving, driving while suspended, hold | Russell Hill, 29, Gary
Possession of marijuana, driving while suspended | Miranda Wright, 26, 201 W. Will St., Kouts
Possession of marijuana, maintaining a common nuisance | Gerson Collazo Jr., 21, Lake Station
Public intoxication | James Moss Jr., 42, Gary
Theft | Alyssa Janiga, 18, 5950 Sundance, Portage; Kayla McCurdy, 20, 2829 Oakwood, Portage; Amanda Cole, 18, 1944 Apple, Portage; Charles Long, 19, Hobart
Theft, invasion of privacy, failure to appear | Jeffrey Knight, 41, 408 Jefferson Ave., Chesterton
