Police

Cops: Vandals target Riverhead recycling facility

BARBARAELLEN KOCH FILE PHOTO | A semi-truck dumps a load of debris at the Youngs Avenue facility.

A Riverhead recycling facility, which recycles scrap metal among other materials, was vandalized earlier this week, causing more than $16,000 in damage during the overnight hours on Tuesday, Riverhead Town police said.

Sometime between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 4 a.m. Wednesday, a conveyer belt was cut at the Youngs Avenue facility, which was valued at about $10,000 and used in an outside sorting plant, according to a report.

Police said an electrical panel, valued at about $5,000, and the windshields of three pieces of construction equipment, were also damaged, and about $2,500 worth of scrap metal was stolen from the facility.

The perpetrators stand to face at least two felony charges, including fourth-degree grand larceny and second-degree criminal mischief if caught.

Detectives are investigating.

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