News

Church, library among places hit by vandals in Methuen

METHUEN, Mass. — A church, library, park and pet cemetery were all hit by vandals in Methuen.

Methuen police are investigating after four places were vandalized.

At the Hillside Acre Pet Cemetery, about eight headstones and statues were tipped or kicked over.

A 300-pound lion statue outside the Nevins Public Library was also somehow moved.

At the First Church Congregational, the church's memorial garden benches also fell victim to the vandals.

"The benches, each one of them, signifies a person or a family that are very important to the life of the church - so it's really disturbing they have been turned over," said Rev. William Ingraham.

The initial concern was that the church was targeted, but police say the other reports starting coming in.

"If each one was done individually, you would have to be concerned of the motive. It looks like some kids who were bored and went out and did this," said Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon. "We're probably talking three or four very strong kids or a group of people."

Crews at all four locations worked to clean up the damage.

Solomon says when the suspects are caught, his department will ask the courts for community service - not just fines.

"They are going to pay back the time and usually those are the kids who get the most reward for something negative they did," said Solomon.

The church and library do have surveillance cameras so police are going through that video to see if it captured anything.