More than 20 incidents of juvenile criminal mischief have swept northern Ames in the past two weeks, resulting in an estimated $4,000 in damages.

Incidents included property damage to fences, planters and yard lighting as well as destruction to the side mirrors of vehicles.

Ames Police Chief Dennis Ballantine said officers apprehended five juveniles at 2:45 the morning of June 27 after a citizen reported them moving traffic cones on 24th Street.

Ballantine said the juveniles were taken into custody and questioned, and police believe they are responsible for the incidents.

Four 14-year-old juveniles have been referred to Juvenile Court Services for criminal mischief in the fourth degree, a serious misdemeanor, and the investigation of the fifth juvenile is still in progress, Ballantine said.

Edward Kannel, 2314 Melrose Ave., had one of the side mirrors of his Ford Escort broken and the other one broken off late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

“I rode my bicycle to work a day or two,” Kannel said.

To replace both electronic mirrors, Kannel said it will cost him $250 for parts alone plus labor and tax, which could bring the total close to $300.

“What we’re hoping for is to get restitution from the vandals who did it,” he said.

Kannel, who didn’t hear the vandals, said he usually parks his car on the street because his wife is the first to leave the house in the morning.

Therefore, the car was very accessible.

Debbie Gallagher, 2018 Northwestern Ave., reported two cars, a 1982 Toyota and a 1993 Ford Taurus with their side mirrors either broken or broken off. Both vehicles were parked in the street near her house when the vandalism occurred.

Although insurance will not cover the cost to repair the mirrors, Gallagher said she hopes to get them repaired soon.

If found guilty, Ballantine said the juveniles would most likely be punished with probation and restitution.

Ballantine also stressed the importance of citizens working with the police to help stop crime.

“There may be other victims out there who haven’t reported [vandalism] to us,” Ballantine said. “We need to have that information so we can get it all put together.”