After the ruthless attack on the Chester Library last month, vandals once again struck the Village Green, this time targeting Centralia Animal Hospital. Striking sometime between 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 17, and 7 a.m. on Friday, July 18, the vandals smashed the glass in one of the front doors with a cinderblock and flipped over the air-conditioner unit.

“We found a smaller brick in the front garden that looked like it had been thrown at the door and then found the half-cinderblock thrown through the glass in the door,” says Catherine Carpenter, LVT, licensed veterinary technician at Centralia Animal Hospital. “When we wondered why it was so hot in the office, we discovered that the air-conditioner unit in the back had been knocked over. We don’t know why someone would do this.”

This isn’t the first attack on the animal hospital. Over the past two years, the business has been vandalized twice with graffiti written on the building and the sign. This is the first time any windows have been broken.

“We have no idea who would be doing this,” says Carpenter.

No other businesses seemed to have been hit during last week’s attack.

“It’s sad to hear that happened,” says Claudio Anzelmo, owner of Pizza Express. “We haven’t experienced anything. I would say that this neighborhood is pretty safe; it was probably just bored teenagers. We will definitely keep our ears open.”

Diane Coghill of Sestra shares similar sentiments.

“We haven’t had any problems here,” says Coghill. “We’ve seen beer bottles outside a few times, but overall it’s been pretty quiet. I hope that they catch whoever has been doing the vandalism.”

According to Ann Reid, director of public affairs for Chesterfield County police, the damage is estimated to be around $500 to $600.

“These acts are very costly to businesses. Right now, we have very little information, so we are asking anyone with information to please come forward.”

If anyone has information about the incident, they may contact Crime Solvers at 748-0660. All reports to Crime Solvers are confidential.

nderatto@villagepublishing.com | 751-0421

© Copyright by Village Publishing

Top of Page                                              Comment on This Article

The Village News office is located at 4607 West Hundred Road Chester
Mailing address is PO Box 2397 Chester, VA 23831
Phone: 751-0421  Fax: 751-9155
Office hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday - Friday call ahead for other hours.
Statement of Journalistic Ethics