Berkeley Police Seek Information About Tire Slashing Spree

The Berkeley Police Department is asking community members with any information about the tire slashing spree in South Berkeley Wednesday to contact the department. Around 50 cars in a 17-block radius on California Street from 62nd to Blake Streets suffered tire damage. 

An initial report was made at 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to police, from a community member whose tires had been slashed or punctured. Berkeley police then received additional reports of flattened tires and began checking the surrounding blocks. More vandalised tires were found, and some officers were flagged down by vehicle owners to report tire damage. Additional tire damage was discovered in the 1600 block of Julia, 1500 block of Russell Street, 2800, 2900, 3000 and 3400 blocks of King Streets.

Berkeley Police Public Information Officer Sgt. Mary Kusmiss said in a statement Wednesday that the investigation is active and ongoing. No arrests have yet been made.

"All the paperwork is being reviewed and compiled and we are estimating approximately 50 cars, vans and trucks had one or two tires punctured," said Kusmiss in an email to local media outlets. "Based on these reports, sometime overnight, a suspect or suspects used an unknown tool or weapon to flatten the tries. There is no specific pattern aside from general locations that any specific type, color, make or model vehicle was the focus of the crimes."

"Community members were understandably upset, angered, surprised and frustrated by the discovery of these crimes as it had and has significant impacts on their lifestyles such as driving children to school, going to work, transporting family members to appointments and driving to care for older parents or family members. Some changed their own tires, tow trucks were called to assist, as well as neighbors helped neighbors change tires. Some of the vehicles were left parked until the community member can order or afford to purchase replacements. Some community members shared that neighbors were out of town and would learn of the tires upon his/her return."

BPD is asking that any community member that may have seen, heard or witnessed any of these crimes call BPD's NON-Emergency Dispatch Line at (510) 981-5900. If the caller wishes to remain anonymous, BPD advises that they call the Bay Area Crimes Stoppers (BACS) at (800)-222-TIPS (8477).

"Any information may be critical to solving these crimes," said Kusmiss. "Sometimes the smallest or seemingly insignificant detail can be the key to arresting the suspect or suspects in any crime.”