Good Samaritan helps mom whose tires were slashed in Northeast Philadelphia

NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Tires were slashed on nearly a dozen cars in Northeast Philadelphia and a Good Samaritan stepped in to help one of the victims.

The slashings happened on the 5800 block of Akron Street.

"People living paycheck to paycheck, most of them. They can't afford over $100 a tire because someone wants to go around slashing tires. It's not right and they deserve better," said Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum, Philadelphia Police.

Detectives looked for surveillance video asking for public's help to find the person(s) responsible.

It's believed that 11 cars were vandalized. Some just had one tire slashed but all four tires on Dottie Roy's aging Camry were targeted.

"I can't go anywhere and someone heard it on the news," said Roy.

Roy says out of the blue she got a call from a stranger who made a remarkable offer.

"They bought me four new tires. They are going to come and tow my car and take it two a place where I can get four new tires. I found an angel," said Roy.

Indeed a flatbed arrived. The driver Louis Casanova was impressed by the Good Samaritan's gesture.

"Good Samaritans are very few but when they come, they make a difference," said Casanova.

Later Wednesday, at a local Pep Boys, four new tires were installed and for Roy this it was a God-send.

She and her daughter use the car to drive 20 miles to Hatboro to visit her son Joseph who has brain damage and is in a long term care facility.

"I just want to thanks the woman. I don't know who you are, but I want to thank you so much. You're an angel. Now I can go see my son today, he's my life," said Roy.

Action News was able to locate the Good Samaritan, Pat Patricio from Delaware County.

Patricio pointed out that Pep Boys agreed to split the cost of the tires with her.

She told us she was moved by Roy's plight and just felt the need to help.