(WTAQ-WLUK) — From Pulaski to Green Bay and even into De Pere, communities across the region are reporting an increase in vandalism.
Law enforcement said they’re seeing more incidents now that school is out for the summer.
The men’s bathroom at the pavilion at Veterans Memorial Park in Pulaski remains closed following a series of incidents in the past couple weeks.
“End of the school year, once summer kicked off, it started off as maybe some toilet paper on the floor — nothing super excessive and on the walls. Now, we’re starting to experience the damage to property,” said Sgt. Adam Winkler with the Pulaski Police Department.
Police say urinal dividers inside the bathroom were ripped from the wall, and feces and urine were spread through the bathroom as well.
Pulaski police are now conducting extra patrols through the park and the bathrooms — and making sure the doors to all restrooms are locked when the park closes at night.
According to Winkler, “It’s more for our Department of Public Works. They do a fantastic job of keeping these bathrooms clean. They take pride in keeping these bathrooms clean and updated, and when we have damage to the property, they have no choice but to shut the bathrooms down to complete fixing the problems that they experience — which then takes away from our community.”
These recent acts of vandalism aren’t only happening in Pulaski.
Green Bay police were called to a West Mason Street address Monday after a business owner reported damage to a sign. Another business owner tells FOX 11 they found graffiti near the intersection of Mason and Oneida streets.
Meanwhile, the De Pere Police Department is investigating property damage, as well as graffiti complaints on the city’s east side.
Det. Sgt. Brian Rates said, “We’ve been having some complaints on criminal damage. A specific event that just took place last week was some vehicles got spray painted with the word ‘Cubs’ on the sides of them.”
While some potential suspects in the Pulaski incidents were caught on camera, De Pere police are asking neighbors to check their surveillance cameras for anything suspicious.
Authorities are reminding people these acts aren’t funny, and they come with consequences.
Winkler added, “It could face anything from citations — in our case, municipal court with restitution — up to possible jail time.”
Anyone with information on these vandalism incidents is asked to report it to the local police departments.