Vandals cause more than $30,000 in damage to Fralic Center equipment, new turf

Penn Hills police are investigating more than $30,000 in vandalism to newly-installed turf and equipment at the Fralic Athletic Center, which occurred Aug. 25.

Chief Howard Burton said his investigators are looking for multiple suspects who entered the center and caused damage both to, and with, athletic-department golf carts.

“Apparently a couple youths were able to get onto the golf carts, and drove all over the new field that they're putting in,” Burton said.

A portion of the field, which had been laser-leveled and prepared for turf installation, was rutted by the golf carts, Burton said. That work will have to be re-done, and Burton said school district officials had not yet estimated that cost.

Additionally, some of the turf that has already been laid was damaged, and Burton said about $10,000 in damage was done to the golf carts alone, along with some minor damage inside the Fralic Center itself.

The suspects were aided by an unlocked building, Burton said.

“It's my understanding that both the Fralic building and the old field house are unlocked because of workers being in an out,” he said. “I guess someone decided not to lock the doors, so the (suspects) had access.”

Patrick Varine is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7845 or pvarine@tribweb.com.