Published: June 30, 2009 09:35 pm      

ET Arboretum to offer $1,000 reward

Money will be awarded for tip that leads to arrest and conviction of vandals

A reward has been offered for the arrest of the person or persons involved in the burglary and vandalism at the East Texas Arboretum and Botanical Society.

The Athens landmark has been the site of tragic acts recently that left structures defaced and property missing.

Friends of the Arboretum say they are not going to take it any more. They have put together their resources and are offering a $1,000 reward to the person with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the people involved.

“They wanted to make clear that it cannot just be someone that has information,” Arboretum Executive Director Teresa Glasgow said. “The information must lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or people involved.

“People in this community do not like this happening,” she said. “Everywhere I go in Athens I get stopped by someone who is mad about this.”

The Athens Police Department received a report June 14, that unknown persons had spray painted words and gang symbols at the Arboretum. On June 19, a shed on the property was burglarized and various garden tools, a lawn mower and a wheel barrow were taken.

Glasgow said the spray painting is of particular concern because the Arboretum is designed to be attractive to people who visit the city. She said the damage included spray paint on the suspension bridge, the bog over-look, on many signs and even the trees on the nature trails.

“We want to catch whoever did this,” Arboretum Board President Bobbie Hawkins said. “I don’t think the people in this community want to see something that took years to build destroyed.”

Glasgow notified APD which has investigated several graffiti painting incidents in recent months.

Some of the spray paint writings are thought to be names of gangs.

Anyone who has information should call Glasgow at the Arboretum.

“We will determine whether we need to contact the police or not,” she said.