I came back from a delightful hike in the Bristol Watershed/Norton Brook area yesterday around 2 p.m. to find the driver’s window of my car smashed in and the car full of broken glass and snow. Nothing appears to have been stolen. Probably a couple of unthinking kids doing stupid things on a snow day, or someone desperate for drug money who was interrupted in his activities. Aside from a nasty clean up job and a very cold ride home, the window will cost about $250 to fix, which insurance won’t pay for. Worse than that, I’m likely to shy away from that area although I have come to enjoy the Ridge Trail and use it regularly.
Part of me wants to get back at whoever did this — hide in the bushes with a tire iron — that sort of thing, or just stay away from the area. The smarter side of me will go ahead and hike there anyway, but place a trail or security camera hidden high in a tree or secured in the car and beam photos to me in real time as I enjoy my hike. Rather than look over my shoulder, I’d like the vandals to be looking over theirs. As Allen Funt used to say, “Smile: you’re on candid camera.” And yes, I would press charges.
Please read this to your own kids so that the word gets out to others. Vandalism is mean, stupid, and … could get the vandal in danger with the law. Better to seek help if you need it.
Harry Chaucer
New Haven