JUST IN: Vehicle vandals strike again, damaging at least 10 more cars

(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) A vehicle vandalism spree continued overnight, with at least 10 more cars having their windows shattered parts of Arlington, ARLnow has learned.

Police confirmed at least 10 incidents in and around Clarendon, though there were additional reports of vehicle damage north of Courthouse and in the Glencarlyn neighborhood. These incidents follow two dozen vehicles being damaged overnight between Thursday and Friday of last week.

Whereas police said last week’s damage was caused by an “unknown object,” this time around police say the windows were smashed with a BB gun.

“The preliminary investigation indicates during overnight hours, unknown suspect(s) shattered the driver’s side windows of approximately 10 vehicles with a BB gun,” an Arlington County Police Department spokeswoman tells ARLnow. “There is no suspect(s) description.”

ACPD is investigating a connection to last week’s spree and conducting additional patrols, we’re told. The department is also asking for the public’s held in finding the unknown vandal or vandals.

“Detectives will investigate this as a series with the previously reported destruction of property series,” said Alli Shorb, the police spokeswoman. “As time and resources permit, officers are conducting extra patrols in the areas of the reported incidents.”

“Community members in these areas are asked to review their home surveillance for any footage that may assist the investigation,” Shorb added. “Information can be reported to the Arlington County Police Department’s Tip Line at 703-228-4180 or [email protected].”

The addresses for latest incidents, listed by ACPD below, are centered around Clarendon but also include parts of Lyon Village, Virginia Square and Courthouse. Video showing some of the damaged vehicles suggests that at least one car was damaged for the second time.

“No car owner has been reported anything stolen,” says the description of the video, which was shot this morning and posted on YouTube by local resident David Cheek. “One car owner told me their car was damaged 2 days ago then again last night. Owner said her car will have to be parked in a garage from now on.”

It’s been a rough year for many car owners in Arlington, which has also seen repeated overnight thefts of catalytic converters, airbags and valuables from inside parked cars, as well as carjackings and vehicle thefts.

ACPD reported another airbag theft series this morning, in the Long Branch Creek neighborhood between Pentagon City and Shirlington. More than a dozen cars, all Hondas, were damaged.

From a crime report:

LARCENY FROM AUTO (Series) (Late), 2022-10250044/10250052/10250087, 1400 block & 1300 block of 28th Street S., 2600 block of S. Adam Street. At approximately 5:40 a.m. on October 25, police were dispatched to the late report of a larceny from auto. The investigation determined that between the overnight hours of October 24 and the early morning hours of October 25, the unknown suspect(s) forced entry into approximately 13 vehicles, damaging the driver’s side door handle and stealing the airbag. The vehicles are all described as Honda models. There is no suspect(s) description. The investigation is ongoing.

Earlier this month ARLnow reported that more than 170 catalytic converters have been reported stolen in Arlington since the start of the year.

Update on 10/27/22 — Yet vehicle vandalism spree by a BB gun-armed suspect (or suspects) has been reported.