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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW BLM plan focuses on environment and recreation ... Drive-by shooter gets 8 years ... OSF and bookstore at odds over banned books display ... BLM plan focuses on environment and recreation ... Drive-by shooter gets 8 years ... OSF and bookstore at odds over banned books display ... Vandals ruin logging business By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2006 @ 2:00 am Updated Feb 16, 2011 at 10:49 AM By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2006 @ 2:00 am Updated Feb 16, 2011 at 10:49 AM » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> 'This was the work of professionals;' Siskiyou County authorities investigate — HILT, Calif. & 8212; Vandals who caused as much as $500,000 in damage to a small logging operation will cost about 20 families their livelihood, owners said. The Siskiyou County Sheriff's Department on Monday was investigating the destruction of nine pieces of heavy machinery owned by Medford-based Hilltop Logging Inc. Co-owner Steve Avgeris said the crime ruined his business, which was logging a small parcel of private property about 10 miles west of Hilt. "This was the work of professionals," Avgeris said. "They came equipped with the right tools." Hilltop employees who arrived for work at about 5:30 a.m. Monday found that someone had poured dirt and debris in fuel tanks; cut hoses, lines and belts; and ripped out computer components in log loaders and tree-shearing and de-limbing machines, Avgeris said. The vandals apparently had master keys to the equipment, he added. "They knew what kind of equipment we had," Avgeris said. Although initials of the Earth Liberation Front were scrawled on some of the machines, investigators said they did not consider the crime an act of eco-terrorism. "We really don't have any reason to be looking in that direction right now," said sheriff's Detective Dave Amaral. "It's not real consistent with what we've seen in the past," he said, declining to disclose additional details. Avgeris theorized the vandals could be trying to throw police off their trail, adding that even hunters may have committed the crime. "We molested a special spot for someone," Avgeris said. Hilltop had logged about 150 acres of pine and Douglas fir on remote land owned by Fruit Growers Supply Co., the supply and manufacturing affiliate of Sunkist Growers Inc. The logs were bound for lumber and plywood mills, Avgeris said. His company had contracted off and on with the landowner for about 23 years. Avgeris said he had never experienced such extensive vandalism. The vandals skipped over two other logging sites in the vicinity, Avgeris said, adding he had no reason to believe that anyone would specifically target his company. Hilltop was under contract to log the area through November, said Avgeris' wife, Cheri Avgeris. But the vandalism likely will halt the operation for the rest of the year, she said. Sheriff's investigators estimated the damage between $100,000 and $500,000. "They didn't just destroy some obscure business," she said. "They affected people's lives." Reports of vandalism at local logging sites are relatively rare, Amaral said, adding that he believed this was the Sheriff's Department's first such report this year. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail . By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By SARAH LEMON,Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 3, 2006 @ 2:00 am Updated Feb 16, 2011 at 10:49 AM » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501