Lucchesi Little Leaguers Besieged by Vandalism

In late January, a group of parents whose children play in the Petaluma American Little League at Lucchesi Park held a workday to clean up the dugouts and paint over the graffiti.

But when they returned the next day, someone had tagged the walls and the ground, leaving behind ugly gang signs.

“It’s so heartbreaking as the fields and dugouts had just been repainted and were ready for the new season,” said Christina Isetta, whose eight year old son Nathan plays in the league. “Parents are going to have to put in more volunteer hours in order to get the fields ready for this season.” 

Vandalism and theft have been constant at the ball fields, despite parents and coaches installing outside lighting and trying to lock up all equipment.

A couple of weeks ago, someone broke into snack bar belonging to the league, removing the bars on the windows to do so. Last year, backstop covers, costing $400 each, were stolen after the team forgotten to lock them up. They were later found in the Lynch Creek area next to the ball fields, a popular spot for the homeless.

“We found them in the bushes and saw that the homeless had turned them into beds,” said George Villareal, the former president of the league.

Then another time someone used a crowbar to enter the league’s concession stand, which was empty.

The league has called the police numerous times, but to no avail. Between the gang members who like to leave their insignia on sidewalks and walls and the homeless who camp there, some parents are starting to feel under siege.

“The saddest thing is that all of this takes money away from the money that would otherwise be spent on the kids,” said Villareal.

Concerned about crime in your neighborhood? Share your story in the comments below or email karina@patch.com.