RUMFORD — Children aged 17 and under can no longer remain outside from 11:01 p.m. to 6 a.m. seven days a week. A rash of spray-painting vandalism that began last month, prompted police on July 28 to start enforcing Rumford’s curfew ordinance again.

Additionally, parents or guardians of such children who allow them to be outside in a public place during curfew hours will also get charged.

“We typically give them a warning the first time we find them out, but the second time, they’re fair game” for summonses, Cpl. Doug Maifeld said on Tuesday afternoon.

That happened to three previously-warned Rumford youths on Sunday who were charged at 11:30 p.m. with violating Rumford’s curfew ordinance. Also charged with the same violation were Tina Thomas, 39, and Billie Joe Lawton, both of Rumford.

All involved will be arraigned on Sept. 7 in Rumford District Court.

According to the ordinance, first-offense penalties net five hours of community service and/or a fine up to $50 for teens; subsequent offense penalties are 10 hours of community service and/or a $100 fine. Adults convicted of the crime must pay a $50 fine for the first offense, and $100 for each subsequent offense.

“We’ve been educating the public about this, so maybe that’s why we haven’t had more problems,” Maifeld said.

According to a July 28 story in the Rumford Falls Times, the criminal mischief incidents began on July 7 with $400 in damage to the Nunnery, Holy Savior School, and St. John Church.

The culprit or culprits who have been tagged with the moniker “Rumford Vandals” based on their spray-painting signature, then painted several locations on Knox, Penobscot, Canal, Spruce, Franklin and York streets, and Maine and Plymouth avenues.

Maifeld said targets included buildings, cars, plants, signs, rocks and a wall.

“The Rumford Vandals did spray-paint all over town, and we’ve tried going stealth looking for them, but they’ve been low key since then,” Maifeld said.

Some 13 of the incidents have estimated damage amounts totaling $2,725. Damage amounts have yet to be listed for 16 additional incidents.

“It’s probably teenagers,” Maifeld said. “Kids getting bored before school starts. They’re lucky that a lot of the paint could be washed off. Otherwise, they’d hit felony status, as in aggravated criminal mischief.”

If the paint can’t be washed off a car, Maifeld said it would likely cost the owner $1,000 or more to have it repainted.

And although police have “some persons of interest,” they’re seeking help from anyone who might have seen something suspicious from dusk to dawn.

Those with information are asked to contact the department at 364-4551, or leave an anonymous tip on the department’s tip page at www.rumfordpd.com/tips.htm. To view the curfew ordinance, visit www.facebook.com/rumfordpd.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com