Vandals caught on film ripping out trees at Sea Cliff Beach

The Third Squad of the Nassau County Police Department is investigating a criminal mischief offense that occurred on Tuesday, Oct. 24, between 1:20 and 2:15 a.m. in Sea Cliff.

According to detectives, two people entered Sea Cliff Beach, which is at The Boulevard, removed seven newly planted trees, and threw them on the ground, which caused approximately $400 worth of damage. The subjects then fled the area in a dark colored vehicle.

“Those trees were planted to create a shaded area by the swing set for the children, and these people decided it’d be funny to snap them in half and yank them out of the ground,” said Village Administrator Bruce Kennedy.

Police say one of the people they are seeking is a white female, 5’4”, approximately 200 lbs., who wore a grey hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white sneakers. The second person is a white male, 6’, approximately 170 lbs., who wore shorts and a hooded sweatshirt on the night of the crime.

The police department released a video detailing the incident, which Kennedy described as “terrific.” “Hopefully this will act as a deterrent for individuals, and put more eyes on the issue,” he said.

Mayor Edward Lieberman said that once the video was brought to the village’s attention, it was reviewed immediately. “We’re taking this very seriously,” he said. “We’ve had a couple of situations like this before, which adds insult to injury, but luckily we got it on film so the police can perfect an arrest.”

Kennedy said these acts of vandalism are typical within the village, and that though this act may seem insignificant to the perpetrators, vandalism costs taxpayers thousands of dollars each year. “The residents are infuriated,” he said. “We’re looking to prosecute it.”

The village beach manager Ann Koppel, and Detective Haynes of the Third Squad, could not be reached by press time.

Detectives request anyone with information regarding the crime to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.