Tree damage near Ann Arbor parking structure totals $2,000
Four trees that were broken in half sometime Thursday night near the Thompson Street parking structure in Ann Arbor amounted to roughly $2,000 in damages.
According to the U-M Department of Public Safety, four ginkgo biloba fastigiatas were found severed on the south side of the structure along a walkway between Division and Thompson streets.
“They were broken off at the trunks about three feet up from the base,” said Diane Brown, spokeswoman for U-M public safety.
It does not appear the trees were sawed. Brown said it was likely the work of vandals with either their hands or an object like a sledgehammer.
“It’s a relatively newly planted area,” Brown said, adding that the trees, which cost $500 apiece, originally stood about 12 feet high.
There are no suspects at this time. Police continued to investigate.
John Counts covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at johncounts@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
a2xarob
Fri, Jun 15, 2012 : 7:44 p.m.
I'm hoping there are cameras in the area that saw this damage happening. This is disgusting behavior.
cleanup
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 12:51 a.m.
Any reason AnnArbor.com didn't run a photo of the damage?
JRW
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
That seems to be the case for a lot of the reporting. Just a minimal "cut and paste" article with no photo.
Townie
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 12:35 p.m.
Nope, that would require a person and effort - AA.com just copies and gets stuff from other places (police reports, etc.). What you're asking for is 'reporting' and there isn't the money for that any more.
JRW
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
More vandalism in A2. It is really an increasing problem, whether it's graffiti, damaging flower gardens in the Arb, sawing off the top of a 30' pine tree in the Arb at Christmas, or breaking off four lovely trees on Thompson Street. The vandals doing this are punks, and security cameras are needed around town. That is the only way these kinds of crimes will stop, through surveillance and prosecution. If they are caught, which is unlikely, I hope they serve some real consequences.
nowayjose
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 9:01 p.m.
Isn't that a capital offense in Ann arbor?
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:28 p.m.
I just hope they catch these jokers and make them pay full restitution.
JRW
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 12:28 a.m.
They are criminals, much more than jokers.
Macabre Sunset
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:12 p.m.
If there are vandals out there who can break 12-foot trees in half with their bare hands, I'm not certain the police are prepared to meet them in combat. Perhaps Rich Kinsey can teach our police how to drive away from these vandals at a rapid speed without hitting any curbs.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 6:53 p.m.
wait, sure this wasn't just a "prank?"
Billy Bob Schwartz
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 6:29 p.m.
I'm sure it was just the typical "pranks and high jinx" of adolescent boys. Maybe one of them will grow up to be President. Never know. At least they only assaulted trees, not a young man with the "wrong" haircut.
JRW
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 12:29 a.m.
No, it wasn't a prank. It was criminal vandalism.
djm12652
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:32 p.m.
just like those pranksters that throw their empty glass booze bottles out of their cars onto the sidewalks of downtown...