Police report
rash of car
vandalism
BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer
WEST LONG BRANCH — There has been a rash of criminal mischief to cars recently, according to police.
Sgt. Lawrence Mihlon said that five incidents of vandalism in which car windows were smashed have been reported in the Locust Avenue and Chestnut Place area, on Dennis Place, along North Linden Avenue and on Monmouth Road. Three of the incidents occurred on the night of July 6, one on the night of July 5 and the other the night of July 3, he said.
When police asked the owners of the damaged cars if they knew anyone who might do this, the daughter of a victim on North Linden Avenue said she had heard glass breaking around 9:30 p.m. and when she looked outside, she saw some juveniles on bicycles going east on North Linden.
"So the only information we have now is that it may be juveniles," he said.
Mihlon said it’s possible that the breaking of the windows may be attempts to burglarize the cars. He said a car on North Linden, which had not been locked, was burglarized on July 1. He said while the thief or thieves didn’t have to break a window to get in, they damaged the dashboard in an attempt to steal the radio. He said a car parked in the Paddock Plaza parking lot, where the ShopRite supermarket is located, was burglarized on July 2.
Mihlon said the vandals may be trying the doors of the cars, and if they find them locked, they smash a window to gain access to the inside of the vehicle.