News

Actions

Company faces expensive losses after vandals shatter windows, destroy tires and disable trucks

Posted at 7:31 PM, Aug 27, 2015
and last updated 2015-08-27 23:54:31-04

MOUNT PLEASANT, Utah -- There was a path of destruction left in the wake of vandals on Tuesday night at Christensen Ready Mix near Mount Pleasant, and the numbers are staggering.

There were 75 windows shattered, 64 tires were punctured and destroyed, and 16 cement trucks were disabled.

The owner of the business estimates the damages at $120,000 to $150,000.

"You can see the pile of tires that they've left around that they're fixing. You can count, 1, 2 3,4, 5... there's $6,000 laying right there in those six tires," says Colton Christensen, walking around his property as a few of employees work to repair the tires and get the trucks back on the road. "Our employees, I mean they didn't work, we just had to send them home yesterday and you know, a lot of people around this area live check to check--and you miss a full day: that's quite a bit."

Summer is the busy season for the business, which delivers concrete to construction sites. Christensen said, for the most part, his clients have been understanding. But some, in need of material immediately to meet their own deadlines, have had to find another concrete supplier.

"It almost has to be someone we know because they knew there was a camera, they knew where to go, what to do, but we can't think of anybody," Christensen said.

Christensen said they can't think of any recently fired employees, disgruntled workers or anyone who made threats.

Investigators at the Sanpete County Sheriff's Office say they haven't tied the crime to any other cases of vandalism. They are watching the surveillance video to see if they can find any usable evidence in what they say will amount to a felony charge due to the cost of the damages.

Christensen said they are working with the company's insurance provider, but it's not clear yet how much, if any, of the damages will be covered. The company did have a few trucks parked at other locations on Tuesday night, and those vehicles were not damaged and are now providing the bulk of the work while the rest of the fleet is under repair.

The company is offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information that could help investigators, contact the Sanpete County Sheriff's Office at 435-835-2345.