A MESSAGE TO VANDALS

Old Lorimier Cemetery is more than a final resting place. It is a slice of Cape Girardeau's history. Tombstones tell of men and women who shaped the development of both Cape Girardeau and the region.

The destruction of 120 tombstones last November was nothing short of a vicious crime. It was one of the most severe incidents of vandalism to ever strike the cemetery. For the most part, vandalism cases had fallen off after city groups erected a chain-link security fence around the cemetery in 1992.

The repairs will cost more than $1,500, and it is estimated about 30 of the headstones were shattered beyond repair. The tombstones of the first president of the old Normal School, Lucius Cheney, and George Lewis, a second cousin of George Washington, were among those damaged.

Vandalism is typically a difficult crime to solve, as the destruction too often involves young people and random acts of violence.

But a $500 reward offered by the Southeast Missourian may have provided a big break. Information led to the arrest of a 17-year-old, 16-year-old and 14-year-old. Authorities say more arrests may follow.

If those responsible for this crime are caught and adequately punished, the reward money will have certainly been well spent. Vandalism is not a lark or joke. It is a crime that will simply not be tolerated in Cape Girardeau. It is a message potential vandals should heed.