SOUTH LYON (WWJ) - Vandals recently struck a cemetery in South Lyon causing tens-of-thousands of dollars in damage and now, local residents are offering a reward in the case.
The vandalism was discovered last week at the community cemetery along Stryker Street near 10 Mile Road. As many as 20 gravestones were knocked down and pushed over, and officials estimate it will cost more than $20,000 to repair the damages.
While a monument company works with the cemetery to properly set the gravestones back up, some members of the tight-knit community have banded together to offer a reward for information leading to an arrest.
South Lyon Police Chief Christopher Sovik said just over $1,000 is being offered since the city went public with the issue on social media -- and the reward is growing.
"There's a local business that was going to offer a reward of $500 and so after checking with the city manager, we decided to put it on our Facebook page to see if there was more interest," Sovik told WWJ's Jon Hewett. "Lo and behold, we had a second business just outside of the city saying 'Listen, we'd be willing to donate another $500.' Then another private citizen came forward and said she'd like to give $25."
Sovik said the high amount of damages means the suspect would be charged with felony vandalism. He's hoping the suspect is caught swiftly so South Lyon can fade from the headlines.
"When something like this makes the news and gets the media attention, we don't like that here in the city of South Lyon. So hopefully with the information that we put out, hopefully someone will come forward and do the right thing and provide some information for us that will lead to an arrest and conviction for those responsible," he said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the South Lyon Police Department at 248-437-1773.
