One or more unknown vandals last week destroyed and stole tee markers valued at $875 from the disc golf course at Seymour Lake Township Park.
According to Oxford Township Parks and Recreation Director Ron Davis, the vandals smashed five of the concrete tee markers into pieces and stole two either last Tuesday or Wednesday.
The markers cost $125 each.
“It looks like they used a sledgehammer,” Davis said.
The square-shaped markers were 14 inches long by 14 inches wide and about 3 inches thick. Each weighed about 50 pounds.
Oakland County Sheriff’s Detective John Robertson said investigators have yet to locate any suspects or witnesses at this time.
Unfortunately, the spring season is also the beginning of the vandalism season for the parks and rec. department, Davis said.
Vandalism cost the department approximately $10,000 last year in repairs and replacement of damaged property, he said.
In the past, vandals have damaged trash cans, windows, parking lot lights and bleachers; cut soccer goal nets; torn up the soccer field by driving vehicles on it; ripped the roofing shingles off the concession stand at Seymour Lake Park; thrown picnic tables into Stony Lake; and destroyed all the signage and benches at Powell Lake Park, Davis said.
Davis said vandalism makes it “harder to maintain the parks” because it creates more work for the staff and takes time and resources away from other projects.
If anyone witnesses any acts of vandalism they should immediately report them to either the parks and rec. department at 628-1720 or the sheriff’s substation at 969-3077.
“If you see something suspicious, don’t turn your head and walk away,” he said, adding that all vandals caught will be prosecuted.