Coquitlam Mounties are investigating after a wave of tire slashings in the Burquitlam area occurred overnight on Tuesday.
Ron Hartley, who has lived in the neighbourhood for 50 years, said he awoke Wednesday to find two of the tires on his mother's minivan had been slashed.
His six immediate neighbours also had tires slashed on their cars and the Coquitlam RCMP confirmed that they have received more than 30 complaints of vandalism to vehicles in the area.
"One neighbour has a camera but it doesn't shoot out far enough," Hartley told The Tri-City News.
His neighbour, Philippe Buteau, said a total of five tires on two of his vehicles had been slashed and that there were more down the street.
"There goes the day," he said. "I was ready to go to work and sit at my desk and do my job. The whole day is ruined."
Police were on the scene at around 10:30 a.m. and tow trucks were already beginning to pickup the damaged cars and bring them to the shop. Buteau said the ICBC deductibles for both of his vehicles will likely cost him $600.
"It's always upsetting when someone comes and destroys your property," he said.
Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said police have received more than 30 complaints of vandalism to cars in the Burquitlam neighbourhood. All occurred in the overnight hours and investigators believe the incidents are related.
"The investigation is very active," he said "We are not going to release any details in order to protect the integrity of that investigation."
This is not the first time police have been searching for a suspect believed to have damaged multiple vehicles.
In 2014, a Coquitlam man was convicted after he was caught keying 63 vehicles in New Westminster, 66 in Burnaby and more than 100 in southwest Coquitlam. ICBC said at the time that the claims from the incidents cost an estimated $230,000.
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