More than 2 dozen tires slashed in Mayfair

MAYFAIR - February 19, 2012 (WPVI) -- For the second time in a week, residents in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia awoke to find several of their tires slashed.

"There's no reason for it. No reason for someone to come down and do 30 cars on the block. No reason for it," said Ricky Lydon.

Ricky Lydon was one of dozens of people who spent the day changing flat tires after vandals on a tear flattened the tires of at least 2 dozen cars parked along the 4000 block of Aldine and Teesdale Streets.

Police were first called to the 4000 block of Aldine Street. Later they discovered more slashed tires on the 4000 block of Teesedale Street.

Over two dozen tires were found, some completely deflated and neighbors are furious.

I'm really mad, tires are not cheap," said Mike Altomari.

That was the reaction of nearly every resident.

"My brother was walking home, he saw two guys leaning at my car, and as he was walking he heard the pop, and he started chasing them," said Altomari.

"I'm not heartbroken but I want to know why? There is no reason for it," said Lydon.

"I have two cars and they got both of them. I came home last night and everything was fine, but when I woke up all these tires were slashed. It's ridiculous," said Theresa McBride.

On Monday residents awoke to a similar scene as more than one dozen tires were slashed.

Some people who got hit both times are now left spending money to fix the damage.

David Toledo spent $900 to replace tires that were slashed last Monday, now his car and his wife's car have been hit again.

"It's tough and we can't afford hundreds of dollars every other week for tire damage," said David Toledo. "I mean I can't afford this. It's ridiculous. I mean the cops, they have to stop it."

Police are still working to figure out who is behind the vandalism.

Police picked up two men overnight for questioning and are stepping up patrols in the neighborhood being targeted. So far no charges have been filed.

"This absolutely is not going to be tolerated, and we're going to take additional officers from the 15th district and put them specifically in this area," said Captain Frank Backmayer.

"People are to the point where we're angry, we're frustrated," said Milt Martelack. "It's like playing a cat and mouse game with these people."

"I just got four new tires, and I'm not working. I go to school. I have a little girl," said Terry Unger.

Police are telling residents to call with any information about the vandals.

People in Mayfair want them caught quickly to put and an end to the aggravation and the cost of replacing needlessly flattened tires.

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mayfair, pennsylvania, philadelphia, vandalism, crime

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