A rash of vehicle vandalisms stretching a 16-block area of Ocean Beach will cost vehicle owners an estimated $100,000 in repairs, according to San Diego police investigators. The vandalism cases, which occurred first between June 19-20 and then again between Sept. 12-13, involved the spraying of an unidentified bluish-colored liquid, according to San Diego Police Department Lt. John Leas. The liquid in both cases is believed to an ink product that causes permanent paint damage to most cars — causing not only monetary issues for vehicle owners but inconvenience and lost time. In all, at least 130 vehicles were vandalized in the two incidents and involve an estimated 80 vehicle owners, Leas said. As a result, San Diego Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the vandal or vandals, according to Leas, who is assigned to the San Diego Police Department’s Western Division. “Some people are fixing it themselves and spending about $250 for a low-quality job,” said Leas. “Others are having it done more professionally, or handling it through their insurance companies, the usual type thing. But what concerns us is the volume and extent of these cases. “What we’re looking at is about 80 different vehicle owners who are going to have to shell out somewhere between $250 to $2,000 per vehicle to fix the damage,” he said. “That’s why we’ve put the overall damage figure somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000.” According to Leas, the vandals struck many of the same streets twice over the 3-month period. Several of the vehicle owners were multiple victims, or had multiple vehicles targeted, because the suspects appear to have sprayed up one side of the street to an intersection, turned and returned up the other side of the street, said Leas. In the first rash of vandalisms, the suspects struck about 30 vehicles. They returned to target another 100 or so vehicles in September, according to Leas. Streets targeted by the vandals include Narragansett Avenue, Niagra Avenue, Cape May Avenue, Cable Street, Bacon Street, Saratoga Street, Del Mar Avenue and Santa Cruz Street, Leas said. Investigators have so far received no information about the vandals, but Leas said they hope the information will serve as some some incentive for neighbors who might have seen something. If caught, the vandals will likely be charged with felony vandalism both because of the number of vehicles involved and because of the amount of damage incurred, said Leas. “This is not unlike our approach in pursuing graffiti cases,” Leas said. “We know we will pursue felony charges against whoever did this, but what happens on the other end in court is obviously up to a judge.” Crime Stoppers is appealing for information with the $1,000 reward and urging neighbors to call in tips anonymously if they like. Residents with information may call the toll-free tip line at (888) 580-TIPS.
