Posted on 11/06/2008 3:10:51 AM PST by atomic conspiracy
As Diane Guzman left home Wednesday to take her children to school, tears began streaming down her face when she saw that her Tahoe's back window was shattered. Then she and her children noticed police lights up and down her block and in the neighborhood.
Guzman, who lives in the 4900 block of 59th Street, was one of about 130 vehicle owners victimized overnight by vandals who randomly shot out windows in the southwest quadrant of Lubbock. Most of the vehicles targeted were SUVs. Some blocks had vehicle after vehicle with shattered windows.
Most reports were concentrated in the area between 26th and 102nd streets on the north and south and between Avenue Q and Slide Road on the east and west.
Police said they have no suspects but believe a BB gun was used to shoot out the windows. Most of the vandalism occurred between midnight and the early morning hours, according to police reports The degree of damage varied. All windows were broken out in some vehicles while others had only one window shattered, police reports indicated. Some residents reported the incidents as vehicle burglaries, but it was not clear if anything was stolen.
The incident frustrated the Guzman family, whose vehicles have been hit by vandals before. "I'm tired of it - to put off a bill to fix the window... . You gotta get the kids to school; you gotta get to work," Guzman said. "It's leaving us broke." The Guzmans had to borrow part of the money to pay $500 to replace the back window Wednesday - they had no help from their insurance company because of a high deductible.
Other families were still waiting to get their windows replaced. Stacy Bost, owner of Glass Doctor, said the shop is so backlogged with customers from the overnight spree that some are having to wait for more glass to be ordered.
"It's been crazy," Bost said, adding the business received at least 100 calls on Wednesday morning. She said damage so far ranges from $250 to $600.
Laurie Wolfe's family had to pay $500 out of pocket to replace the back window of their Expedition after insurance paid $100 of the bill. "It's just frustrating because you're out that money you've worked hard for," Wolfe said. "You feel so violated. ... I'm praying they don't come back and vandalize us again."
Wolfe and Guzman said they will take steps to protect their property in the future. Wolfe, who lives in the 4800 block of 61st Street, said she is considering surveillance cameras. Guzman's family will be certain to park their vehicles in the garage, where they usually are when the family is at home.
Police Lt. Rob Mayne encouraged residents to watch for and report suspicious activity in their neighborhoods. Residents can call Crime Line at 741-1000 or the police department's front desk at 775-2817 to report suspicious activity.
Aside from the drama, this is no different than what Big Government does to the individual citizen on a daily basis.
Wow! My parents live right in the middle of this...I guess I need to call them.
Maybe the window glass shops are drumming up business. ;-)
... prolly just some local brothers auditioning for Zero’s Domestic Management Army.
You can buy really cheap security cameras at Costco and Walmart that hook up to computers or VCR’s.
2-4 males, from fairly wealthy families and students at Texas Tech. probably in their final year. Car is going to be a BMW, Mercedes or maybe a Prius. That is my profile for what it is worth and that would be about what you payed for it. :)
Your forgot: fraternity students.
Regards,
Mostly SUVs? Hmmm.
This is the kind of thing that made me buy a house with a garage..... It’s unacceptable that that would need to be the case....
Purge the debri in the garages and get those cars in the home designed for them. I can't imagine waking up to that, or having to chip ice off my windshield.
Leave your car out at your own risk, don't complain.
Totally agree. Using garages as an on-site landfill is stupid when there is $30,000 of machinery sitting in the driveway exposed to miscreants.
I tell you where I live it is cold in winter and ice a lot, no way will I wake up to frozen windshields that I go out and scrape. Mine have never ever sat outside.
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