Vandal causes damage in Bradford, Vt., at park and Oxbow High

An unidentified perpetrator forced his way into two buildings, set off a fire extinguisher, destroyed surveillance cameras and stole a pair of shoes from a lost and found just after midnight on Dec. 22, 2023, Vermont State Police said in news release. (Courtesy Vermont State Police)

An unidentified perpetrator forced his way into two buildings, set off a fire extinguisher, destroyed surveillance cameras and stole a pair of shoes from a lost and found just after midnight on Dec. 22, 2023, Vermont State Police said in news release. (Courtesy Vermont State Police)

Published: 12-27-2023 12:23 PM

BRADFORD, Vt. — An unidentified perpetrator forced his way into two buildings, set off a fire extinguisher, destroyed surveillance cameras and stole a pair of shoes just after midnight last Thursday, Vermont State Police said in news release.

Surveillance video shows a suspect wearing an orange Carhartt sweatshirt and purple shoe laces and wielding a hammer inside the recreation building at Elizabeth’s Park, according to police.

Authorities first became aware of the incident when they were notified of the break-in at the park, which abuts Oxbow High’s football field. State Police also found a storage building belonging to the high school had been broken into.

Video surveillance showed a small truck enter Elizabeth’s Park just after midnight Thursday. The driver drove across the back of the park onto Oxbow property, where a storage building was broken into and a fire extinguisher was set off.

The vehicle then returned to Elizabeth’s Park, where an unidentified male carrying a large hammer approached the recreation building, according to surveillance video. The perpetrator used the hammer to smash a small window on the door to gain entry to the building. He then smashed security cameras and left with a pair of black shoes that were in the lost-and-found.

Vermont State Police are asking anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the St. Johnsbury Barracks at 802-748-3111.