(July 17, 2009) FORSYTH, Mo. -- Taney County Sheriff Jimmie Russell said detectives arrested two 12-year-old boys for two break-ins and a slew of property damage near Branson on Tuesday night..   One boy is from Branson and one is from Bull Creek.

Russell said the boys are believed to be responsible for cutting 53 tires plus other property damage in the Spring Meadows subdivision, and two burglaries of a nearby building.  Russell said Taney County juvenile department authorities will deal with the boys.
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(July 15, 2009) BRANSON, Mo. -- Taney County sheriff's deputies had a busy morning on Wednesday as they investigated about 50 reports of vandalism that occurred on Tuesday night.  No one saw or heard a thing but when the residents of the neighborhood near Branson woke up, they found someone had obviously been there--and left a mark.

Most of Spring Meadows subdivision looked like an overbooked body shop on Wednesday.   The vandals slashed tires on around 50 vehicles, and then some.  Jennifer Adams heard reports coming across the scanner, then looked outside. 

"I looked out the bedroom, and saw the kids' trampoline all cut and sliced up," Adams said.  "I don't know what their point was."

Neither does her neighbor Karen Luna.

"We went out and all four of my tires had been slashed," said Luna.

The vandals caused plenty of damage before leaving but they don't appear to have taken anything with them.  Luna says a storage unit holding a number of belongings remained unlocked outside all night. 

"I just really think it was a vandalism streak," Luna said.

When you consider how many cut marks remain on lawn mowers, kids' toys, and all those cars, though, the costs of a streak add up quickly.  Those costs will be difficult for many residents. 

"We have senior citizens, people who are unemployed," said Luna.

And, in a situation where expenses come in shy of insurance deductibles, those in Spring Meadows are left to hope the individuals who committed the crime are held accountable.

"It's not right.  When people do this kind of damage, they should be responsible for that," said Luna.

The Taney County Sheriff's Department says investigators have no suspects.  It ask anyone with information to call the department at (417) 546-7250.