Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
John Hollenhorst Reporting Vandalism is usually a misdemeanor. But the damage yesterday was so widespread police say this is a felony. For owners, it's an expensive headache.
This incident is the sort of thing that shows why insurance can be frustrating. Should you pay for more or better coverage? Or should you take your chances, betting that somebody with a mean streak won't ruin your day?
On one car, just two tires got slashed. Enough to ruin New Years Day for Lani Fisiiteau.
Lani Fisiiteau, South Jordan Resident: "I do have insurance. But it's actually cheaper for me just to buy the tires, rather than pay the deductible to my insurance company."
That seems to be typical. The vandals who swept through this neighborhood slashed and punctured tires on at least 20 cars. The typical victim had insurance with deductibles higher than the cost of replacing the tire.
Larry Anderson owned four vehicles that had slashed tires, each insured but with 500 dollar deductible on each car.
Larry Anderson, South Jordan Resident: "Each car doesn't add up to the deductible. And then I have to pay the damages out of my pocket."
In his case, that totals about a thousand dollars. For Lani, not quite so bad.
Lani Fisiiteau: "About a couple hundred to redo the tires for this vehicle."
There is one way the victims could potentially get their money back. Through the courts.
Lt. Dan Starks, South Jordan Police Dept.: "And the judge can mandate that they are ordered to pay restitution to each individual victim."
Larry Anderson: "Could be. The chances of them being found are slim."
Police say detectives have canvassed the neighborhood. And they're keeping their ears to the ground in local schools on the assumption the vandals are teenage boys.
Lt. Dan Starks: "Boy it would be nice to close that out with an arrest, have some justice served and get these people back on their feet financially as well. It's a heck of a way to wake up first day of the year."
The vandals attacked somewhere between 3:00 and 7:00 in the morning, presumably after a night celebrating New Years Eve.
The only witness reported seeing three young males wearing hoodies.
