CRANDALL, Texas — The Crandall Police Department is investigating incidents of vandalism in Heartland which include a shattered car windshield and racist and obscene images spray painted on an overhead garage door and car.
CRANDALL, Texas — The Crandall Police Department is investigating incidents of vandalism in Heartland which include a shattered car windshield and racist and obscene images spray painted on an overhead garage door and car.
The latest incident, a broken car windshield on Lake Trail, is believed to be the work of kids or teenagers. Police say they gathered show prints off the vehicle which indicate an 11 to 11-and-a-half sized Nike Kyrie 1 shoe.
On Legend Trail, Crandall Police Department Lieutenant Mike Smith says in the overnight hours of March 14, 2016, possibly two teenage white males spray painted racial and obscene images on one resident’s home and vehicle including the lettering “kkk.”
Chief Billy Kilgore, on Facebook, said one of the males appeared to be wearing a hoodie and the other a “longhorn hat.”
Police say this investigation is being considered a hate crime and is being investigated as such by the department.
“This will be worked as a hate crime and is completely disgraceful,” stated Kilgore, whose department has been contracted by the HOA to provide police coverage to the community which is located in unincorporated Kaufman County.
Smith told inForney.com the incidents don’t appear to be related but the department is not ruling anything out at this point and says police do believe the teens live in the neighborhood.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Crandall Police Department at (972) 427-3767 or, to remain anonymous, the Kaufman County Crime Stoppers at (877) 847-7522.
On Thursday night, residents met for the monthly community watch meeting at Heartland Hall with a majority of the residents agreeing the first step must be to take a proactive approach to crime prevention in the neighborhood.
Heartland Community Lifestyle Director Amber Dorsey said residents should be more proactive instead of reaction citing a lack of attendance at the monthly community watch meetings which are held every third Thursday of the month.
“We are all neighbors and we don’t even speak,” said Danielle Young. “We should know our neighbors and know if something is out of character.”
Smith says residents shouldn’t become complaisant and should report suspicious behavior.
“I would rather get a call about something and it be nothing than not receive a call and it be something,” he said.
Smith also told residents crime hasn’t seen a recent spike but local media coverage has recently been utilized by the department to help solve crimes — leading to an appearance of more crime.
“The best thing to happen is to get more people active on the streets whether by community watch programs or citizens on patrol,” he said.
Constable-elect Chad Jones says, once he takes office in January 2017, his department will also step up patrols in the area when available outside of their Justice of the Peace court duties.
Discussions are underway to add two additional patrol officers through the Crandall Police Department and also a possible police and fire substation as the community continues to grow.
