A Clinton homeowner was informed last week that her second home, a two-bedroom cottage in the Harbor View beach area, had been vandalized.
What she experienced when she entered the home, as told by another family member, was too shocking to believe.
"Not one piece of glass in the entire house was left untouched," said the family member who wished to remain unidentified. "Everything was smashed and broken. Not one thing was untouched."
The crazy part was nothing was stolen.
Tile was ripped off walls, the sink and toilet were smashed, the oven door was ripped off its hinges, the front of the fireplace was smashed as was the hearth. Nine windows were broken.
"An antique framed photo of her parent's wedding was smashed," said the family member.
The home has been owned for 10 years by M.J. Malone who also lives in Bozrah, CT. No one was at the beach cottage at the time of the vandalism, which was estimated to occur on January 31.
The homeowner was notified through a neighbor that a window had been smashed.
"It's hard to understand how this happened. It's a very populated area," said the family member. "Houses are close together."
Detective Bryan Pellegrini of the Clinton Police Department said vandalism to this extent is pretty rare in town.
"We have been very lucky in Clinton in avoiding this as well as burglaries in the beach area," said Pellegrini. "Many residents are living at the beach year round which provides more protection."
The homeowner is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest(s) of the vandals. The amount of the reward is not being disclosed at this time.
Anyone with information on the vandalism that took place in a single-family residence, a cottage in the Harbor View Beach area in Clinton on Thursday, Jan. 31 is encouraged to call Det. Bryan Pellegrini or Officer Allison Tanner of the Clinton Police Department at 860-669-0451.
