Three local businesses were vandalized Wednesday in what two managers speculate to be a string of related criminal activities. Store managers say several copies of the Feb. 4 Emerald were left at the locations.
The papers, which contained a story about shoplifting that mentioned the three businesses, were labeled with derogatory comments. The Eugene Police Department has not released any information regarding a possible link among the incidents.
“As of now, we have no suspect information,” EPD spokeswoman Kerry Delf said.
A criminal mischief report was filed with EPD at 6:19 a.m.
Wednesday from the East 18th Avenue Hirons, after an employee reported what appeared to be a bullet hole in the walk-up pharmacy window on the east side of the building. At 8:32 a.m., a second caller reported that the window was simply broken.
Manager Steve Hirons said he believes the damage was made with a tire iron, leaving large cracks and holes in all of the three windows looking into the store. The newspapers were scattered below, Hirons said. Nothing was taken, but $3,000 in damage was reported. Hirons said he sees the incident as a reflection of misplaced anger.

“There’s evil in the world,” he said, “and this is an example of how some people can succumb to that evil.”
The University Bookstore called EPD at 8 a.m. to report two broken windows, costing an estimated $500 in damage, in the front entrance. EPD reported a trail of blood leading around the building and down Kincaid Street. Manager James Williams said copies of the Emerald were pushed between the doors. Drops of blood also appeared on the glass, causing Williams to speculate it was punched in, and to question what would warrant such a violent action against the bookstore.
“We look at our customers as being honest,” he said. “I just hope the individual does not try to do this again.”
The bookstore’s 24-hour indoor video surveillance system captured the crime at 4:25 a.m. and revealed what appeared to be one individual involved, Williams said. Footage of the incident is currently being evaluated by the bookstore’s loss prevention staff.
“If any suspect information is obtained from the surveillance tapes, it will be included in any follow-up investigations,” Delf said.
The newspapers were confiscated by EPD as evidence, Williams added. A third similar report was filed with EPD later in the afternoon, but the owner of the business declined to comment on the incident.