Nearly a dozen residents in North Burnaby got an unpleasant surprise when they woke up Tuesday morning after the long weekend.
A vandal or group of vandals smashed the windows of 11 cars parked in the 4200 block of Pandora Street between Madison Avenue and Boundary Road, according to Burnaby RCMP.
The crimes were reported at 7 a.m., but police believe the incidents took place sometime overnight.
In all the cases, nothing was stolen. There were reports of similar incidents along Pandora on the Vancouver side of the street.
Burnaby RCMP Staff Sgt. Maj. John Buis said the incidents are very frustrating to the vehicle owners and police alike.
“People never like having their cars broken into and things taken, but it’s more the inconvenience of replacing the window and the cost,” he told the NOW.
A typical claim costs ICBC about $1,000.
There are no suspects, but investigators believe there may have been a witness who saw the suspect and scared them away. At some point, police are hoping to speak to the witness.
The overnight window smashing incidents are reminiscent of a rash of similar crimes last fall.
In a span of couple months between October and December, someone went on a frenzy smashing the windows of 350 vehicles in both south and north Burnaby.
In some cases, the suspect would target nearly 50 cars in an evening.
The person was never caught, but after police released high quality video and good description of the possible suspect, the incidents stopped.
Buis said investigators are looking to see if there is a connection, but without a description or witnesses, police have little to go on.
For now, police are offering reminders to residents to help them avoid becoming a victim: If you see anything suspicion contact police, don’t leave anything in your vehicle, and leave it in a well-lit or busy area with lots of people around.
While there is no suspect description in the newest batch of vandalism, there is a description of the suspect’s car used in the incidents last fall.
The vehicle was described as a late 90s, light coloured four-door sedan with a large dent on the passenger- side door.
