Photos courtesy of Stuart Police Department

While the Stuart Police Department works to maintain good relations with its community members, a recent act of vandalism shows it’s not easy to please everyone.

Recently, a Stuart Police Officer awoke to find their patrol car’s rear-view mirror had been torn off and the tires were slashed. Police Chief Dave Reha says these incidents don’t come as a shock for his line of work, but he shares the true victims of these crimes, “Unfortunately, the people that did this they didn’t hurt the department. They hurt the City, you know, they hurt the residents. I mean that vehicle isn’t only our vehicle, it’s the city’s vehicle. So the taxpayers of Stuart paid for that and they’re going to pay for the damages and the replacement.”

Reha says an investigation is ongoing at this time, and charges have not yet been filed. He reminds residents that crime can happen to any resident, and urges people to make sure their vehicles and homes are locked and other security measures are taken to prevent costly crimes. Residents can also get to know Reha and the other police staff at their annual National Night Out event happening from 6-9 p.m. tomorrow at Lawbaugh Park.