Support Vehicles Vandalized

[Old Croc]

"Two Maunakea Observatories Support Services vehicles were apparently vandalized last weekend while parked in Hilo." -- Tribune Herald Sept. 6th.

https://www.hawaiitribune-herald.com/201...andalized/

[terracore]

"Hilo Patrol Capt. Kenneth Quiocho said there is no way of determining the motive behind the vandalism"

Puncturing gas tanks isn't "vandalism" it's "sabotage". And dangerous at that considering how combustible fuel is. "No way of knowing". Well, they could catch the perps and ask them. Then they would know.

[knieft]

No worries. It was non-violent gas tank puncturing...

Seriously troubling though.

Cheers,
Kirt

[kalakoa]

non-violent gas tank puncturing

I thought it was pronounced "civil disobedience" these days?

[TomK]

Lugnuts have also been deliberately loosened on some observatory vehicles while parked overnight in Hilo.

[kalianna]

Have they never heard of security cameras?

[TomK]

Yes, but they can't cover every bit of space, and it's a sad state of affairs that they're now needed. I'm in the middle of making arrangements for the Hilo-based observatories to co-operate on warning each other of suspicious behavior on Astronomy Row because we now have to deal with people sabotaging vehicles.

[Pilgrim]

Seems to me that causing potentially life threatening situations by sabotaging work vehicles is indeed violence and intimidation. At what point can it be called terrorism?

Definition from the FBI's website - Domestic terrorism: Perpetrated by individuals and/or groups inspired by or associated with primarily U.S.-based movements that espouse extremist ideologies of a political, religious, social, racial, or environmental nature.

[keaau mary]

Actually, the gas tank puncturing has been going on for a while now. May not have been directly aimed at the Support Services people. Could just be losers stealing gas.

Mahalo!

[HereOnThePrimalEdge]

gas tank puncturing has been going on for a while

The article states multiple punctures in both vehicles. When thieves are stealing gas don’t they just punch one hole where they insert a siphon tube?