Rock-throwing marks 3rd incident in 1-month span

Vandals damaged the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity (FIJI) house last weekend for the third time since August.

A rock was thrown through a first floor window and the front door lock was damaged sometime between when construction workers left the site Friday afternoon and when they returned early Monday morning, according to police reports.

No damage was found inside the house.

Last month arsonists entered the FIJI house two nights in a row, burning blueprints and tape around doorframes in an apparent attempt to burn the house down.

Police have no suspects, but they think the incidents might be connected.

"I think it is a possibility, because of the frequency of the incidents, that someone who dislikes the FIJI house is responsible for the criminal acts," said Sgt. Eugene Mejia, UAPD spokesman.

Craig Arbon, an alumni representative, thinks that the incident was probably random.

"There is no link between this and the first event we don't think," he said. "There was no arson this time."

Fraternity president Sam Catanese said that he also does not think the incidents are related.

"This could just be drunken behavior," the political science senior said.

He does not completely rule out the possibility that someone has a grudge against the fraternity.

"I wouldn't be surprised by people being jealous just because we have a $4 million house," he said.

The money for the new house, on which construction began early in the summer, was almost entirely donated by FIJI alumni.

While last month's arson incidents cost the fraternity several thousand dollars, the damage caused last weekend will only cost a few hundred dollars to repair, said project manager Brad Lloyd, vice president of Lloyd Construction Co., Inc.

The fraternity members will be able to move into the house on schedule, in the beginning of October.

"Petty vandalism is not going to set it back at all. As long as they can't get in the house we're okay," Catanese said.

He said that in the mean time the fraternity has asked police to keep a closer watch over the site, which is located directly across the street from the UAPD station.