NYPD: Man Slashes Tires In Possible Crown Heights Hate Crime
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police have released surveillance video of a suspect wanted in a series of tire slashings in Brooklyn.
According to investigators, the suspect was seen slashing tires in Crown Heights last week.
Police say about a dozen cars belonging to Jewish residents had their tires cut on Lefferts Boulevard between Troy and Albany Avenues at around 9 p.m. on July 1.
Surveillance video shows the suspect getting down on his knees to slash tires on up to 12 cars on the block.
The block where the attacks occurred is in a predominately Jewish neighborhood. Police are now investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
Shaya Kay said he woke Thursday morning, to find the tires on his car ripped through again after he had it replaced from Friday's slashing.
Kay believes the suspect is trying to send a message.
"I think somebody doesn't like us very much," he told CBS2's Ali Bauman.
His tires were replaced by the same man who fixed them over the weekend.
"A whole bunch of them. I fixed cars all day Sunday and Monday, slashed tires," he said.
Hours of work and twelve cars damaged for a crime that takes moments.
Despite the attack, many residents aren't going to stop parking their cars in the area.
"God blesses us and we're all together and we're always going to stay that way" Eli Blachman said. "Tires aren't going to divide us."
Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS or by logging onto their website at www.NYPDCrimestoppers.com