Tires slashed on 17 vehicles in New Castle

NEW CASTLE, Del. (WPVI) -- It was not a good way to start a Friday. Many people in a New Castle, Delaware, neighborhood woke up to find their tires slashed.

"I can't repeat what I think," said resident Ed Poczynek. "That's the first time this has happened here in 50 years."

Police say a group of teenagers targeted the area along West 11th and Juniper streets early Friday morning.

They not only targeted residents, but the criminals also slashed the tires on a county police cruiser.

In all, the tire slashers hit 17 cars, causing thousands of dollars in damages.

Charles Bowen says he called police and chased the teen tire slashers from his neighborhood early Friday morning, but they got away.

"Lucky I didn't get my hands on them, that's for sure," he said.

Some of the victims were impacted more than others.

All four tires on Howie Hewett's truck were flattened, along with all four tires on his wife's car. That's eight tires in all, a crime he estimates will cost him $1,000.

"We don't have money to replace our tires, you know? We're struggling now," Hewett said.

Residents are upset and many are struggling financially and are desperately trying to figure out how they will pay for the repairs, given their auto insurance deductibles.

All were hoping for a quick arrest.

"Where's their parents at? It's 1:30 in the morning, where's their parents at? I know when I was a teenager my father made sure I was in when the street lights were on," said Bowen.

Anyone with information about the crime or suspects is being asked to call New Castle Police at 302-322-9800.