By Khalida Sarwari
The owners of about 50 cars that were vandalized over the weekend in Santa Cruz have estimated the damage at $11,000, a police spokesman said today.
The vandal or vandals struck sometime between 11 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday in the area of Almar Avenue, according to police.
Many of the cars had slashed tires and at least six had swastikas etched into the paint, police spokesman Zach Friend said.
Officers recovered part of a knife in one of the slashed tires. Friend said it has been sent to the state Department of Justice for processing.
No one has been arrested in connection with the vandalism, but once caught, the perpetrator could be charged with a hate crime on top of felony vandalism charges, police said.
Friend said police are investigating whether any specific car owner was specifically targeted, but said the given the number of vehicles damaged, that doesn’t appear to be the case.
Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact the Santa Cruz Police Department at (831) 420-5870.