Published: August 26, 2008 12:34 pm            

Police asking for help in finding Goon Squad members

A group styling themselves as the Southside Goon Squad has continued its graffiti crime wave throughout the summer, and Effingham Police Department is looking for citizens’ help to solve the case.

The police estimate the group has committed 27 crimes and caused more than $75,000 worth of damage between May 26 and Aug. 15.

Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.

“Somebody knows an unusual person who is buying paints or has seen kids coming home with paint on their hands. There is an individual who has information on that, and they are yet to come forward,” said Police Chief Mike Schutzbach.

While the perpetrators, who police believe are juveniles, do not strike every night, the group hits several locations at once.

“It’s been going on throughout the summer, so it’s not just an isolated event. At the time it happens, there are numerous victims,” Schutzbach said.

The group’s latest string of crimes involves at least seven incidents in the downtown area. Two businesses, one governmental entity, three vehicles and one residential garage door were reported to have been covered with graffiti between 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, and 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, in the 100 block of Market Avenue, the 400 block of East Jefferson Avenue, the 300 block of North Second Street, the 300 block of North Third Street, the 200 block of Banker Street and the 500 block of West Franklin Avenue.

“We have interviewed numerous juveniles and nothing has materialized, which is why we desperately need the community’s involvement,” Schutzbach said.

An employee who works downtown said her building was struck by the squad during the latest string. She spoke on condition of anonymity because she doesn’t want the building she works in to get hit again.

“The damage was spray painted on our alley street door. We’ve been vandalized three times in the past eight years, but this is the first time it’s been spray-painted,” she said. “As far as what they painted, we couldn’t really read it. Luckily, we were able to get it off with soap and water.”

If a resident feels uncomfortable reporting directly to the police at 217-347-0771, then Schutzbach encourages them to call the local Crime Stoppers office at 34-SOLVE (347-6583) or toll free at 1-877-44-SOLVE (1-877-447-6583).

Citizens are assigned a code number when they give information, and at no time are they required to provide their identity, name, address or telephone number.

Schutzbach said a person who gives Crime Stoppers a tip leading to the arrest of subjects pertaining to the Southside Goon Squad are guaranteed $1,000, the top reward given by Crime Stoppers.

Normally, the Crime Stoppers board would first discuss the crime and the amount of damage it caused, then determine how much they think the information is worth and give out a reward up to $1,000, according to Crime Stoppers Coordinator and Detective Todd Ebbert.

But police want to put a stop to the vandalism sprees and have guaranteed top dollar to the person providing information to do that.

The money is then assigned to the person’s code number and taken to the postmaster at the local post office, where the person can pick up the cash reward simply by giving the code number. The caller remains anonymous throughout the entire process, Ebbert said.

Angie Faller can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 131 or angie.faller@

effinghamdailynews.com.