Tires Slashed by Astoria Park last week
Feb. 3, 2021 By Christina Santucci
At least two people had their car tires slashed near Astoria Park last week.
The incidents by Astoria Park appear to be part of a pattern, with a tow truck driver who picked up the vehicles last week saying it is part of an ongoing problem.
Eli Barreto, with Country Wide Auto Collision, said he has towed several cars with slashed tires from the same spot on Shore Boulevard at the intersection with Astoria Boulevard South over the past several months.
“I pick up cars there like every other week,” Barreto said. He explained that vehicles often have multiple damaged tires. “One tire, you can put the spare on. Two tires you have to get towed.”
When asked if the damage could have been caused by potholes or sharp objects on the road, Barreto said no. “There’s always a hole on the side of the tire,” he said.
Only one of the two vehicle owners reported the incident to police at the 114th Precinct.
Tires Slashed by Astoria Park last week
Both car owners said they had been parked in front of a makeshift dog park, known as “Bugsy’s Dog Run,” when their tires were damaged.
“I woke up to go to work Thursday morning, and they were slashed,” said Anthony Jewell.
Jewell said he had to call someone to pick him up and give him a ride to his job at LaGuardia Airport, and later paid $300 for two new tires. “I’m out here trying to make money, not spend money,” he said.
The second person, who did not want to be identified, said she discovered her tires had been damaged Friday morning.
“It’s just vandalism for vandalism’s sake. Are you bored? Do you want to pop things?” she said, suggesting that if cameras were installed in the area that might discourage or record the damage to property.
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6 Comments
Seems to be your first point of action.
Unfortunately, sometimes it’s car repair places that are sending kids, who they pay, to slash the tires, so that the drivers have to go to them to get the tires replaced. Not all the time, but it’s an old scam.
Well when the liberal progressives allow criminals to roam the streets this is what happens. Keep voting Democrat-a criminal’s best friend!
I parked in that area a few months before the pandemic and when I came back, I had a big dent with paint damage in my rear quarter panel. It was as if someone had smashed a brick into it. I can only hope that karma pays them back a hundred times over.
I used to live over here and parked my car here all the time and my tires (along with several others) got slashed back in fall of 2019. DO NOT park here!
This has been going on for nearly a year.