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Broken Arrow nonprofit vandalized for third time in 2017

Posted at 6:23 PM, Oct 17, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-17 20:34:41-04

BROKEN ARROW, Okla. -- The Broken Arrow Blue Star Mothers Office was vandalized for the third time this year.

Friday, Janet Viel discovered the front window of their office was shattered. After looking back at surveillance video, the military moms believe someone in a passing truck shot out their window. 

"That is the pickup coming over the railroad tracks," Viel said while watching the surveillance video. "He will go past, out of my camera's sight, and then the glass breaks." 

This is the third time the office has been vandalized in 2017. The first time was on Easter weekend. The second time was Mother's Day. The most recent was on Friday the 13th. 

"Do they have something against the military? Do they have something against us?" Viel asked.

She figured if it was a random act, they would not have been victim three times.

In 2017, A New Leaf, a non-profit plant nursery that employs disabled adults, and the Catholic-charity Knights of Columbus were also targeted by vandals. A New Leaf and the Knights of Columbus are also in Broken Arrow.

In all three cases, nothing was taken. 

The Blue Star Mothers are still left to front the bill to repair the shattered glass. 

"I could even understand it if someone was starving and they saw that we had mac and cheese and Pop Tarts, you know, they were hungry," Viel said. "They came in because they were hungry and they took the food, but they never came in, so it's pure vandalism." 

Tuesday, a repairman measured for a new window. It is going to cost the group about $650.

That unexpected bill is going to put them in a pinch for this month's care packages they send to the deployed troops. The mothers are set to mail out 160 boxes full of treats to the troops this coming Friday. To ship each box costs about $15.  They are determined to find a way to come up with the money.

"I'm not going to take that away from any of the deployed troops," Viel said. "I would like to think they are depending on us. It makes them feel better to know that somebody back home cares about them." 

Viel wants the personal responsible caught. Based on the video, the moms believe the person behind it drives a light-colored, dual cab Toyota Tundra with a light out in the front of the truck. 

Broken Arrow Police said they do not have any suspects at this time..

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