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Deputies are hoping to find vandals who smashed the windows of more than a dozen cars overnight on the east side of Salt Lake.
The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office received calls from people in the area above Wasatch Boulevard between I-80 and I-215. They all said they woke up to cars with smashed windows in their driveways or in front of their homes. In all, 16 cars were vandalized, and somehow there were no witnesses.
Even without suspect descriptions, law enforcement has its theories. Deputy Barry Mortensen, with the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, said, "Typically it's more of a juvenile crime to smash out windows using good sized rocks, throwing them through the side windows, the backs and the windshields, as well.
However, one victim believes the motivation behind his smashed windows was political. Stephen Osman said, "Someone that's come after us and hit us for political reasons."
His car had the rear and front windshields shattered. What's different about this incident, though, is the note left on the car. The ink faded because of the rain, but up close, it appears to be pro-Obama propaganda.
Osman says maybe he was targeted because his mother is an outspoken Republican talk show host. Other than that, his car wasn't obviously marked. "No pro-McCain, no nothing, no stickers, no lawn signs, nothing," he said.
Deputies say of the 16 cars vandalized, Osman's is the only one with a note. "Certainly that's a possibility that there could be some political motivation. It's hard to say though," Mortensen said.
Sheriff's officials hope someone will call in with a description or any sort of lead. They say any fingerprints were washed away by the rain. "It's frustrating when there's very little, if any physical evidence to go off of. But a lot of times we get lucky breaks with juveniles because they like to talk," Mortensen said.
Deputies say chances are, there are more than these 16 cars smashed and that they'll be getting more calls tonight and tomorrow when people return from weekend trips.
If you have any more information, call the sheriff's office.
E-mail: ngonzales @ksl.com
