At least eight vehicles on Elgin’s west side were damaged Wednesday night into Thursday morning by vandals using rocks or BB guns, Elgin police Public Information Officer Kristie Hilton said.
The incidents occurred in the 1700 block of Sheffield Drive, 700 block of Canyon Lane, first block of Tivoli Place, 500 block of Hudson Bluff Drive, 1100 of Royal Boulevard, 900 block of Carol Avenue, 1600 block of Mark Avenue and 1300 block of Getzelman Drive, Hilton said.
“At this time we cannot determine a link to two other similar criminal damage to property incidents that were reported in the same area in the past three weeks,” she said.
Alan Howlett told The Courier-News he parked his minivan along Royal Boulevard, near Abbott Drive, about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, near a nearby apartment complex where he lives with his parents.
“My father heads to work very early in the morning. Around 4:30 a.m., when he went to his own car, which was not damaged, he noticed the broken glass by my van,” Howlett said.
Howlett called the police, and noticed two other vehicles along Royal also had been vandalized, he said.
In the 25 years the family has lived in their apartment, there was only one other incident — in the 1990s — when one of their vehicle windows had been broken, Howlett said.
“Not much like this usually happens around here,” he said.
Hilton said with acts of vandalism involving BB guns, juveniles are frequently, but not always, the culprits. Elgin code prohibits minors from using BB guns without adult supervision.
“If you must park in the street, try to do so in a well-lit area,” she said. “As always, if you see or hear something suspicious, please call us so we may investigate.”
The non-emergency police umber is 847-289-2700. Tips also may be sent online at www.cityofelgin.org/242/Crime-Tips or by texting 847411 and including ELGINPD at the beginning of the message.
