Surveillance footage captured the sound of a car window shattering and showed a suspect exiting the passenger side of a white sedan, appearing to search through a vehicle before driving away.
The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. Friday on E. Palmer Street in Fishtown. About a block away, on the 400 block of E. Thompson Street, at least seven vehicles were also damaged.
Peter Balderston said his car was one of seven on the block with a smashed passenger-side window around the same time as the incident on Palmer Street.
"I was hoping to go on a little road trip this morning and came out and found my window had been broken into," Balderston said.
Instead of leaving for his trip, Balderston spent the morning taping up the damaged window while waiting for a glass company.
"The quote I got was around $270 or $300," he said.
Other residents swept up broken glass while assessing the damage.
"I just feel bad because someone else might want to park here," one neighbor added.
"It's really a shame because this is a great block and it's a nice area," said Katie Zeck, whose vehicle was not damaged.
Zeck said she remains concerned about the neighborhood despite avoiding the vandalism.
"It's really nice to be across from the park and the school, so I just lucked out that I was out yesterday and my car wasn't parked here," she said.
As more neighbors found police reports placed on their windshields, Balderston said he was puzzled by the apparent motive. He said nothing appeared to be missing from his vehicle.
"I haven't found anything they might have taken. I don't leave valuables in my car," Balderston said.
Philadelphia police are investigating. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact East Detectives.