Two boys broke into the Fox Valley Trolley Museum and bashed out train windows, among other vandalism acts, that may cost up to $150,000 to fix, South Elgin police and museum officials said, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Police traced a blood trail from the museum to a nearby home where they arrested two suspects on July 8 after residents helped police to identify them, according to Sgt. Mike Doty.
The vandals caused damage to eight trolley cars, in particular to their plate glass windows which will be expensive to replace, museum president Ed Konecki told the newspaper.
“(I feel) confusion, sorrow and hurt, wondering what drove children to do such a thing,” he told the Tribune in an email.
“Did the museum offend them (in some way) that we don’t know about? I feel bad that alleged vandals wanted to destroy instead of build and create.
“There is so much to do that young people could participate in along with their parents,” he said.
The museum is supported by volunteers.
“The only thing more broken than the windows damaged inside our museum barn were our hearts!” Museum volunteer Jeff Bennet said on a Gofundme.com fundraising page. “As we barely hang on financially, we are at a loss for means to repair the excessive amount of damage.”
“Parents are reminded to discuss with their children that committing these types of acts have ramifications that can affect their lives and future endeavors,” Doty said in a press release.
The museum was founded in 1966. The Fox River Trolley cars operated in the village in the 20’s and 30’s.
Donations to repair the windows can be sent by check to Fox River Trolley Museum, P.O. Box 315, South Elgin, IL 60177-0315.
From NTD.tv
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