Multiple cars vandalized in Bustleton prompts police investigation: 'They just did not care'
PHILADELPHIA - Philadelphia police are investigating after they say multiple instances of vandalism were reported in Philly’s Bustleton neighborhood.
At around 4:00 a.m. Sunday, police responded to a vandalism report on the 9800 block of Cowden Street.
They say an unknown offender exited a dark minivan and broke the windshield and passenger window to a Hyundai Tuscan. The offender fled in the dark minivan.
Just a few hours later, police responded to a vandalism report on the same block. This time, six cars were vandalized.
"I said to my wife when is it going to be they try your door. You know? That is the scary part?" said Charles Cameron who has a brand-new LED light above the garage door home.
He had it installed after someone vandalized his daughter's boyfriend's car parked in his driveway early Sunday morning.
"Somebody broke into his vehicle. His window was smashed. His golf clubs like the casing for them was on the street but all the golf clubs were missing," said Cameron. His wife noticed it while leaving the house later that morning.
"We just couldn't believe it. We all got up and went outside," he said.
Cameron instantly looked at footage from his security cameras and says it happened just after 4 a.m.
"You could see they just come down the street, they broke his door lock on his driver's side. That's how they got in and then they popped his trunk," he said. "Then just took the golf club and just started banging the windshield and he did this to ten vehicles on the street."
"It just was very bold. They just did not care," said Cameron.
Svitlana Elfimolva is another victim. She says she heard the back glass of her Nissan Pathfinder break.
"It was 4 a.m. I looked out my window," she said.
"My insurance does not cover it because we have $500 deductible," said Elfimolva who says they got her neighbor’s vehicle too.
"It's a big problem," she said.
Police in a report list seven incidents, but neighbors say the number is closer to about twenty combined from Cowden and Bonner Street. Police also say a suspect got of a dark minivan in at least one case.
"It seems to be like an every weekend thing now it really does. It may not be you every weekend, but it is one car or two cars," said Cameron.
Neighbors plan to attend a community meeting January 21st at the seventh police district looking for help.
"This is your property, you're in your house, you're sleeping, and you want to be able to go to sleep at night," said Cameron.
The following is a breakdown of the additional reported incidents per police, which includes one theft:
- Hyundai Sonata: The locks were broken on the driver's side door. Taken from the vehicle was golf clubs. The front windshield was broken.
- Honda CRV: The right mirror was broken. Nothing was taken.
- GMC Yukon: The right mirror was broken and the front passenger door was damaged. Nothing was taken.
- Nissan Pathfinder: The rear window to the vehicle was broken. Nothing was taken.
- Toyota Sienna: The left mirror was broken, Nothing was taken.
- Toyota Sienna: the rear left window was broken, but nothing was taken.
This is an ongoing investigation.