By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
Authorities are asking for the public’s help in determining who spray-painted a number of buildings and vehicles throughout the county.
The Rowan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the acts of vandalism.
One of the buildings belonged to the Union Volunteer Fire Department at 1470 Union Church Road. Officials said someone spray-painted on one of the bay doors at the station with black spray paint.
No words were written, just zig zag lines.
The building was last known secure around 9:30 p.m. Thursday and the graffiti was found Friday just after 12:30 p.m.
Officials estimate the damage to be $400.
A woman notified investigators her son, Ricky Dale Moore Jr., had a vehicle in his yard for sale. A neighbor told the woman someone had spray-painted words on the vehicle in black spray paint.
Moore had parked along the road at St. Lukes Church Road, Salisbury. It was last known to be secure Thursday at 9 a.m. The graffiti was discovered by the neighbor Friday around 1 p.m.
It appears someone may have tried to write an expletive on the truck, but possibly spelled a word wrong. A face was painted on the hood of the truck.
Moore estimated damage to his vehicle at $1,000.
A state highway patrolman notified authorities his patrol car had also been a target.
The patrol car was parked along Bringle Ferry Road and was known secure at 9 p.m. on Thursday and was discovered Friday at 6:30 a.m.
The hood of the vehicle was spray-painted. The highway patrol auto repair shop has since buffed out the spray paint on the vehicle. The damage was estimated at $200.
Vandals also hit East Rowan High School, authorities said.
Someone spray-painted on glass doors, windows, signs and a walk-in cooler.
The school was known to be secure Thursday around lunch. The graffiti was found Sunday around 5 p.m.
The school estimates the damage to be about $1,050.
According to Sheriff’s Capt. John Sifford, investigators believe all the incidents are connected.
Anyone with information about these incidents is asked to contact the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office at 704-216-8700 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.