Nineteen vehicles were vandalized in South Philadelphia, causing alarm and concern among residents. The Philadelphia police are investigating the incidents, and locals hope for increased security and swift justice.
Key Takeaways:
- Nineteen cars were vandalized in South Philadelphia in one night.
- Residents feel unsafe and are demanding more security measures.
- The Philadelphia police are investigating, with hopes that security footage will help catch the vandals.
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Car Vandalism Spree Leaves Residents Frustrated
Late Sunday night, between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m., a total of nineteen cars were vandalized along the 1600 to 1800 blocks of Washington Avenue.
By Monday morning, police had received numerous calls about shattered car windows, ransacked interiors, and stolen belongings.
Griffin O’Donnell, a victim of the vandalism, expressed his frustration, saying, “It’s just sad. These people have no heart. They’re just going around smashing windows.”
O’Donnell parked his car on 16th Street between Washington Avenue and Carpenter Street around 8 p.m. Sunday night.
By 9 a.m. Monday, he discovered his front driver’s side window broken. “It’s a pain to go get them fixed, it takes time out of my day, I gotta work and it costs money obviously,” he said.
Despite reinforcing the tape on his shattered window, the experience left him disheartened.
Samantha Killiany and Gabe Crouthamel, who were walking their dog near the vandalism site, shared their fears. “It’s definitely scary and nerve-wracking. Especially living around here, and it feels like an invasion of privacy, and also, nine is crazy,” said Killiany.
Crouthamel added, “It doesn’t make it feel like a safe place to be and being people who have a car here. Luckily, we’re not one of the victims yet, but hopefully, things get better.”
Repeat Vandalism Costs Residents Hundreds
The impact of these incidents extends beyond the immediate damage to the vehicles. For O’Donnell, this wasn’t the first time his car was targeted.
Just two weeks before, he had to pay a few hundred dollars in insurance deductible to fix a similar issue.
“I trust in the police, and hopefully they find the guy, or if it’s a couple of people, hopefully they find them,” he said.
Another victim, Matthew Pasquarello, found his car with broken windows and minimal theft. “They took two quarters,” he reported, but the repair costs exceeded $600.
His SUV was parked near Baldi Funeral Home, where shattered glass and rifled-through cars were evident by Tuesday evening.
For Lily Gebbia, the repeated break-ins have become a financial burden. Her car, essential for her job with InstaCart, was hit twice in two weeks.
“This block is hit all the time,” she said.
Surveillance footage from the funeral home captured someone entering the lot and flashing a light into cars, but no arrests have been made.
Rising Car Vandalism Prompts Safety Concerns
As car vandalism rises, police put up notices on cars at Broad and Reed Streets, telling owners to lock their cars and not leave valuables inside. Still, many residents feel their cars are not safe anywhere.
Pasquarello and Gebbia, both long-time residents, are considering moving out of the neighborhood due to the frequent incidents.
“It’s got to stop,” Pasquarello said.
“I’ve been here 38 years, and none of this stuff happened back in the day. Now all of a sudden it’s happening all the time because they get away with it.”
As the investigation continues, residents hope that security footage will help identify the culprits and bring them to justice, restoring a sense of safety to their community.
