CARS VANDALIZED ON GRAD NIGHT AT WEST HILLS HIGH

June 25, 2010 (Santee) – At least 16 vehicles were vandalized or broken into at West Hills High School in Santee sometime between midnight and 5 a.m. yesterday morning. Graduating seniors left their cars parked in the "senior lot" before heading to Knott’s Berry Farm for Grad Night.

Returning later, they found many vehicles had broken windows, slashed tires, and body damage. Several victims also reported items missing, including an I-pod, wallet, cash, and gift cards. “Junior Takeover” was scrawled on numerous windows, along with other sayings scrawled with water-soluble markers.

During a Sheriff’s investigation, video from the high school showed two groups of people coming on campus separately during the night. The first group was in the parking lot at about 11:30 p.m. and a second group was on campus at about 3:30 a.m.

During the investigation, several juveniles came forward to admit that they were responsible for writing “Junior takeover” on the vehicles as a prank and admitted to being on campus at about 11:30 p.m., but were adamant that they did not break any windows, damage property, or steal any items.

Detectives from the Santee Sheriff’s substation Station are handling the follow-up.