Ojai : Reward Offered in Attacks by Vandals

The Ojai Unified School District is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of vandals who damaged property at four schools and at least five businesses early Friday.

Detective Bill Stevens of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department said investigators welcome the public’s help but might be able to determine the culprits on their own.

“We expect to make the case on fingerprints,” Stevens said.

A trail of fire extinguishers left lying on the Ojai Valley Trail, Stevens said, indicates the vandals used the bicycle path through Ojai on their crime spree, one of the worst the Ojai schools have experienced in many years.

Alarms at the schools and businesses began ringing at 12:30 a.m. Friday in downtown Ojai and ended at 2:30 a.m. several miles southwest at Mira Monte Elementary School, Stevens said.

Deputies were unable to catch up with the vandals.

The school district made a rough estimate of $30,000 in total damage from broken windows and smashed school property at the elementary school, Matilija Junior High School, Nordhoff High School and the school district offices on Ojai Avenue.

Nordhoff was hit hardest, with about $25,000 in destruction reported in the school’s computer lab, where hardware and software were destroyed. About $4,000 in damage is estimated from broken glass, Stevens said.

Full estimates of property damage to the businesses were still being made Monday.

Bronk Vreeland Ojai Ford dealership reported $1,000 in damage from smashed truck windows. A cash register and windows were damaged at Jet Gas Service Station but no money was missing, Stevens said.

An awning was damaged at Big Chief Hul-A-Mu food store in the Arcade Plaza and a plate-glass window in a plaza kiosk was smashed.

Topa Topa Optometry also had broken windows, Stevens said, and utility meters were smashed at the Ben Franklin store in the Ojai Valley Shopping Center on Maricopa Highway.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department substation in Ojai at 646-1414.