Vandals spraypaint at nature center, post photos online

Vandals allegedly chose a unique way to declare their worksmanship this weekend: posting their tagging on Facebook, and linking it to the Watershed Nature Center.

The center reported that the alleged vandals signed in at the welcome center, then hiked around to the far back end of the trail, which winds around the lake and marshland of Watershed Nature Center’s property. At the far back end is a short trail that leaves the center’s property and leads to railroad tracks operated by Norfolk Southern.

They allegedly spray-painted words on the rails, then took selfie images with their handiwork and posted them on the internet, tagging the Watershed Nature Center.

Center leaders posted on their own Facebook page: “We’re saddened when people choose the Watershed to vandalize, but it never hurts when the vandals happen to tag and post photos of themselves in the act!”

There was additional vandalism on the paved portion of the trail, but it was not immediately known if the same group was responsible. Nature Center leaders could not be immediately reached for comment.

Edwardsville Police and the Madison County Sheriff’s Department were initially involved, but when it was determined that the vandalism took place on railroad property, it was turned over to the Norfolk Southern Police Department. Crimes that take place on railroad property are under their jurisdiction, similar to federal officers, according to the sheriff’s department.

Norfolk Southern officials could not be immediately reached for comment. It was not known if arrests have been made.

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 12:11 AM with the headline "Vandals spraypaint at nature center, post photos online."