Rafting companies have a only few months of operation each year, so vandals slashing rafts could be a season-ender.
Fortunately for Southwest Raft and Jeep, the vandals didn’t slash all of Troy McLeod’s rafts, so he’s able to accommodate his clients. But with an estimated $25,000 in damage, with four rafts needing repairs and one that is likely too damaged to repair, recent vandalism was a tough hit.
“They damaged three rafts that were new last season, and one that just had its maiden voyage the day before,” McLeod said. “If it had happened the previous day, I would have been dead in the water, because I had a group of 200 kids we took through the Whitewater Park.”
McLeod and his wife, Tammy, bought Southwest Raft and Jeep in April 2014. He said they had trouble last year with people damaging their rack cards and other small incidents this year, but nothing like this.
“It’s just so senseless, and the damage was extensive,” said Sgt. Mike Slack of the Durango Police Department. “We do have video, although I don’t know what quality it is.”
The video shows two male suspects, McLeod said, at about 2:30 a.m. Friday. One stops in front of the business – which is located at one of the busiest corners in town, where Main Avenue, Camino del Rio and 14th Street intersect – and appears to be fiddling with his cellphone. Another male shows up, and the two begin wending their way through the parking area slashing rafts.
“These weren’t stabs, they were slashes 8 to 15 inches long,” McLeod said. “Even when the floodlights came on, they continued.”
McLeod said the video also showed someone on the lot about half an hour later with a flashlight.
He will have a better idea as to the full effect of the damage after an insurance company inspection Monday or Tuesday. While he’s still able to handle regular business, McLeod is already planning how to take care of the next big groups arriving in the coming weeks, which he’s had booked for months.
Slack said the DPD would like to hear from anyone who might have knowledge of the crime. People may either call the Detective Bureau at 375-4730 or CrimeStoppers at 247-1112 or visit the CrimeStoppers website, www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=771.
abutler@durangoherald.com
