FULLERTON : Vandalism at YMCA Estimated at $10,000

Vandals broke into the Fullerton YMCA last weekend, smashing windows and causing an estimated $10,000 in damage, authorities said.

The incident at 2000 Youth Way occurred either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, police said. Vandals used rocks and heavy flower planters to smash windows at the building and of vans used to pick up children for the Y’s day-care program. YMCA sweat shirts and food were reported stolen.

Police said investigators are treating the incident as a burglary and would not say whether it was gang-related. The building is closed on the weekend and is generally used by seniors.

“It was a total mess,” said Tony Shuman, executive director of North County YMCA. “There was so much broken glass that we had to hire a carpet cleaner to get it all out.” Shuman said coffee packets were also opened and scattered all over the grounds.

Shuman said the YMCA alerted police a month ago about a group of youngsters that gathers near the facility at night on weekends.

“We were getting a little concerned because when we opened on Monday, we would find broken beer bottles in the parking lot,” Shuman said, adding that the police had even sent out a patrol car on Friday nights but found nothing.

Shuman said the vandalism will force the YMCA to keep a worker on duty during weekend nights, and that will burden an already-strained budget.

“I really don’t understand why people do things like this,” Shuman said. “This center is for everyone. It doesn’t make any sense.”