HELENA — Picture this: you wake up, step outside to your car, and discover that your window has been shattered. This has been the recent reality for some residents in Helena.
Marisa Jackels recalls her experience, stating, “You could see there was something that had hit it and it had spider-webbed out. So, it was like big, jagged, and then just little shards of glass all in the car and around. And this kind guy who was working on some construction across the street came over and was like, you can tell something hit this, and he’s like, this sucks. And I was like, yeah, it does.”
Jackels woke up on Aug. 5, 2024, to find her car window shot through with what seemed to be a BB gun. Fortunately, nothing was stolen from her car. After reporting the incident to the police and contacting a glass shop, she was able to get her car repaired a few days later.
Helena Police Department Lt. Jayson Zander mentioned that there have been seven similar incidents. While these crimes can be difficult to track, they can use business or residential cameras to help identify the perpetrators.
“If we do find you, I can assure you will be charged and you will be held accountable and you will be responsible for the repairs,” warned Zander.
Collin Wilkinson, the manager of Big Sky Auto Glass shop, noted an increase in business due to these acts of vandalism. The cost of replacing windshields and door windows can range from $280 to $350 on average.
Jackels had to spend about $270 on a new window, not to mention the time off work and arranging transportation to and from the glass shop. She now feels apprehensive about parking her car on the street again and hopes that the perpetrators will rethink their actions.
“It’s not thinking about the reality of the impact that that has on the person whose car that is or whose property that is. So, yeah, it’s just kind of a lack of empathy or, or thinking it through,” Jackels expressed.
