CBS 2 Exclusive: Rash Of Tire Slashings Plagues Woodhaven, Queens
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Several residents of Woodhaven, Queens have awoken this week to find their tires slashed – with the damage done in a manner that makes repairs impossible.
As CBS 2's John Slattery reported exclusively Friday, a look down 85th Street west of Woodhaven Boulevard revealed one car after another with at least one tire slashed.
"Every car on the block had their tires slashed on the left side," said vandalism victim Avelino Beltran.
Beltran said late Thursday night, he heard a noise out on the street.
"I did hear a hissing noise, like, 'sssss,'" he said. "But I thought it was somebody that had a compressor on."
When Beltran got up Friday morning, he found that his son's car had a flat tire. The sidewall had been punctured or slashed.
Two dozen others found the same.
"My mother woke me up this morning because everyone was outside," said vandalism victim Kayla Pena.
Pena, 19, said the Acura she drives to school had flat on the left front.
"I saw my tire popped and I couldn't believe it," she said.
Police had reports of 20 tires being slashed. Neighbors said their count was more like 25 cars -- all with at least one tire slashed in the sidewall, leaving it beyond repair.
Katrina Lin said her boyfriend's car was hit. And no one seems to know the motive of the vandals.
"I don't know what's wrong with them," Lin said. "Like, I don't know if it's because they couldn't find a parking spot, because it's really hard to find a parking spot when it gets late."
The gratuitous damage amounted to thousands of dollars on one street alone.
Residents on that street said they have been hit before. They found tires punctured a couple of years ago, followed by a rash of broken windows.
There did not appear to be any surveillance cameras in front of the homes.
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