Despite increased fine, street signs still disappearing

Despite the fact that the St. Charles Parish Council recently increased the maximum fine for the vandalism of parish property, street signs continue to disappear in Luling and Destrehan.

Last week, thieves removed street signs from the corners of Mimosa Avenue and Primrose Drive and Mimosa Avenue and St. Maria Street in Luling. Signs were also stolen from the corner of Gordon Street and Jean Street, according to parish spokeswoman Renee Simpson.

This is the second time in less than a month that thieves have targeted signs in the Mimosa area. In early October, signs were stolen from the corners of Mimosa Avenue and West Heather Drive, St. Maria Street and Birch Street.

But it’s not just street signs that are feeling the wrath of vandals - parish pump stations have often come under attack. Recently, thieves removed 25-foot copper leads from a backup generator at the Barton Avenue pump station. The leads are valued at $800.

In September, vandals fired gunshots at the Kellog pump station in Luling, causing $1,500 worth of damage. Numerous bullets damaged light fixtures, walls and an exhaust pipe for pump discharge.

Other recent damage has occurred when vandals threw railroad-side debris into the Oak Street pumping station in St. Rose and spray painted names and graffiti on the pump station’s concrete.

Because of the recent vandalism, the council raised the maximum fine for injuring, defacing or destroying parish property from $100 to $500 at their last meeting. But because no one has been arrested and charged with any of the recent vandalism, Councilman Dennis Nuss said he plans an amendment to raise the maximum reward for information leading to the arrest of anyone responsible to $1,000 from the current $500.

Contact the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 783-6237 if you have any information on the recent street sign thefts.