Health Officials Seek Answers In Mosquito Trap Vandalism

On Tuesday, a monitor found all three traps wrecked. That attack coincided with another at Crooked Creek Park.

"This one was completely terrorized. Everything was everywhere," Bhalala said.

The traps cost from $200 to $500, and a missing battery can cost more than $150. Dispatching a fix-it crew also wastes time and gas.

"The traps are expensive, the data is irreplaceable and I just got super-frustrated and said we have to do something about this," Arias said.

He called police to get the word out.

Lucy Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the county police department, said that police have yet to catch any trap vandals but that commanders in the hardest-hit areas have been notified.

"While this may not seem like a serious crime when you see all the crimes that there are," she said, "you certainly want to prevent these things from being tampered with."

Penalties for the destruction of such property, police said, could include a fine of up to $2,500 and up to 12 months in jail.

All remain baffled about the vandals' motives.

"We have no idea of who or why," Bhalala said. "People are curious, or bored."