The Town Council has approved the implementation of a reward program in an effort to stem vandalism and criminal damage in Fountain Hills.

The town is prepared to offer a reward of $1,000 to anyone who provides information related to any criminal damage incident in town, and that information leads to an arrest and conviction.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh and Councilman Art Tolis suggested the reward on the heels of a series of incidents in early January. One of those incidents resulted in the overnight slashing of tires on 10 vehicles along Saguaro Boulevard from about Tower Drive to Paul Nordin Parkway.

The vehicles were parked at locations including the Alamo Saloon, Peaks Fitness, the Lexington Hotel and several vehicles at the Motor Sports car lot at Colony Drive.

At about the same time period two churches in town reported vandalism to Nativity displays, and another incident at the Community Garden before the site was completely secure.

Town Manager Grady Miller said that most communities in the Valley, including Fountain Hills, are able to participate in the Silent Witness program, but he said in most instances those are much more serious or widespread crimes.

“I think we can do a better job with a local program for this,” Miller said.

Maricopa County Sheriff’s Capt. Dave Letourneau, commander for the MCSO District 7 based in Fountain Hills, told town staff he agrees that the reward may provide motivation to someone who has knowledge of such incidents.

With respect to the previous crimes, Letourneau said detectives have little to go on, although they have a theory, but there is also no evidence to support that.

Councilman Dennis Brown asked whether the town could specify that guilty pay restitution to cover the costs of the reward.

Town Attorney Andrew McGuire said the court has jurisdiction in such matters and that would be a question to have the town prosecutor address.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh said people do see things, but then wait until the next day and write something on Facebook.

“Then it is too late to act,” Kavanagh said. “If you see something, call right away, there might be a reward in it for you.”

The approved motion allows for the allocation of $10,000 from the contingency account to create the program.

Miller also said that the town will be making needed repairs and upgrades as well as additions to the security cameras used in parks and surrounding other town facilities.