School Neighbors Should Be On Watch This Weekend
Sacramento, CA: Sacramento City Unified School District officials are asking community members to keep watch over neighborhood schools this long Fourth of July weekend to prevent costly fires or vandalism at local campuses.

"It's the worst weekend of the year for us," says Sgt. Vince Matranga, who oversees district security.

"We'll be out in force watching our schools but we need our neighbors to step up, too."

Vandals – mostly juveniles – typically cause about $7,000 in damage to district schools over the three-day holiday, Matranga says.

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Destruction can range from graffiti to broken windows to fires.

Last year, disaster was narrowly avoided when fireworks were thrown through a classroom window at John Bidwell Elementary School, he added. "The classroom could easily have caught on fire."

Ffireworks, matches and lighters, are not allowed on school property.

Neighbors who see the fireworks being lit at a school should