Vandals slashed tires on at least 17 vehicles Tuesday night and Wednesday morning between 1st and 6th avenues and Sweet Home police are actively searching for two suspects, Sweet Home Police said Wednesday afternoon.
The slashing spree began late Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning, Chief Jeff Lynn said. There was no apparent pattern and police do not believe anyone in particular was being targeted.
“We believe it was just random houses,” he said. “Some were in a line, like they just went down the road. Some residences had multiple tires slashed on one vehicle, while some had more than one vehicle’s tires slashed.”
He said evidence was found “at almost all the victim locations.”
Sgt. Jason Van Eck said tires were slashed at 13 separate households at last count. He said most had at least one or two tires damaged.
The investigation is ongoing and police are “actively seeking suspects,” Lynn and Van Eck said.
“We anticipate arrests,” Lynn said. “We’re actively searching for the subjects believed to be responsible.”
The department has two suspects, Lynn said. Comments in social media suggest that they’ve been lying low, and police officers were busy with weather-related calls last week.
He anticipates finding and arresting the two suspects.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Officer Rocky Hanni at (541) 367-5181.
“Most were discovered this morning, when people got up,” Lynn said of the damaged tires. “It was pretty devastating and expensive. It was hard on everybody involved.”