A Watertown restaurant owner believes local police are doing the best they can, but incidences of vandalism and break-ins in this city have been increasing the past six months or so causing residents and others business owners concern.

Lisa Chesley’s restaurant, Nona Lisa Pizzeria, has been struck twice recently by some teenage boys. The most recent incident occurred either late Saturday night or early Sunday morning at the eatery and also at another one, Mi Ranchito Mexican Restaurant which is located in a building that is owned by Chesley and her husband, Jay.

Chesley said she has been told that there has been an arrest made in the vandalism and that the suspect is a minor.

“There are some teens in town that have been causing trouble for a while,” she said Thursday.

Chesley said she believes the group of teens is between the ages of 13-17.

“They are not afraid of the law,” she noted, adding the teens are often out after curfew which is 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and midnight, Friday and Saturday.

Chesley’s noted that the Mexican restaurant was burglarized for the second time. The suspect or suspects broke a window in the back door after they apparently tried and failed to get in through the front door. Upon entering, a cash register was taken.  Concrete urns that served as planters outside of the pizzeria owned by Chesley were turned over and broken, also.

She said she has been told that two boys have been arrested.

Other businesses in Watertown have been struck by vandals recently as well, she said, citing the Vance Law Office which had a mailbox damaged, and a hamburger wagon located behind Lulu’s Coffee House had a butcher knife stolen.

Elderly people in Watertown are afraid of the teens, also, and have reported to authorities someone knocking on their doors late at night.

There have also been incidents of intimidation by teens and the use of profanity and obscene gestures toward others in the community.

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