Union Street window breaker frustrating merchants and police

LYNN – Police are trying to catch a sling-shot wielding vandal who has shot out windows on Union Street the past two months.
The damage has cost local landlords like David Gass and proprietors like Manny Nunez and Kenny Mahmood hundreds of dollars in repair costs. The damaged plate glass window at the front of Nunez’ La Fe Restaurant is covered and taped over where someone launched a bolt or small lug nut into the glass.
Four of Caruso’s windows have been hit with a similar projectile during the past two weeks. Nunez thinks the attacks occur in the early morning hours, even before his day shift employees arrive to begin cooking at 5 a.m.
Caruso’s employee Tony Grada said the vandalized windows only underscore Union Street’s lack of appeal to evening diners. He said the city needs to check and repair broken street lights along the commercial street.
?Customers ask me, ‘What’s happening on your street?’ I tell them to call City Hall,” Grada said, adding he suspects kids are responsible for the damage.
Police are trying to catch the window breaker but their main lead in the investigation to date is a security camera video showing a dark-colored SUV traveling down Union in the vicinity of one of the breaks.
Other businesses forced to spend hard-earned cash on window repairs in the last several weeks include Tiffany Barber shop where a plate glass door was broken twice. Lotus Communication’s window was broken three times in the past two months and Melvin’s Convenience has sustained breaks.
Edwin Ogie helps run Image Masters, a storefront business specializing in office repair and other service.
His window facing Union Street and two others in adjoining businesses have been broken.
?This has been going on for awhile. It makes you feel you’re not safe in your place of business,” Ogie said.