Police looking for SUV tied to vandalisms

Published 9:54 am Thursday, April 29, 2010

Austin police are looking for a dark-colored, small, older SUV and asking citizens for tips as they investigate a rash of BB gun vandalism cases.

As of Thursday morning, police are dealing with at least 14 different reports from across the city, which likely occurred between late Tuesday night and early Wednesday. Many of the calls have been for damaged windows on vehicles, but at least three businesses — Ruskell Hardware on 18th Avenue Northwest, Jerry’s Other Place on Main Street and Subway on Oakland Avenue — and several residences were also hit.

Police first started receiving the reports at around 4 a.m. Wednesday from the Fourth Avenue Northwest area between the 800 block and 1100 block, where numerous vehicles were damaged. An individual who reported that he heard a noise similar to sand hitting metal also saw an SUV leave the area.

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Police said they have no make or model on the car, but did say it resembled a Chevrolet Blazer-style SUV.

No suspect or suspects have been identified in the case, and Lt. John Mueller said it is too early in the investigation to say definitively how many people were involved and whether all the cases were related.

Damages are estimated at several thousand dollars.

Anyone with tips is asked to call the Austin Police Department at (507) 437-9400.