SUNNYVALE POLICE SEEK TRAFFIC-TAMPERING VANDALS

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers are seeking information about one or more vandals who have tampered with traffic lights in the city. A half-dozen incidents have been reported over the last few months.

While there have not been any reported accidents or injuries due to the tampering, the situation remains serious. In some cases traffic control lights have been turned while others have been disabled, and some audible warning signals for visually impaired pedestrians have been turned.

DPS Deputy Chief Mark Stivers says officers are watching for any signs of tampering. “Whomever has been working on these signals knows what they are doing,” he said. “They have blended in and have not attracted public attention, even though in at least some cases a bucket truck had to be used to reach overhead traffic lights.”

“The quality of the tampering on some of the wiring leads us to believe the suspect has experience working on these systems,” said Sunnyvale Transportation and Traffic Manager Jack Witthaus.

Witthaus explained that most work on traffic lights is done by the City of Sunnyvale or Caltrans. In some cases, private contractors are used, but only with a Sunnyvale City employee present at the repair site.

“We’re asking the public to pay attention when they see someone working on traffic lights in Sunnyvale,” Stivers said. “If you don’t see a vehicle with a Sunnyvale City logo on it nearby, call DPS at 9-1-1 or, from a cell phone, (408) 736-6244. DPS can then verify if the work being done is legitimate or not.”