SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4News) – A small but destructive crime spree has left one Utah neighborhood stunned – wondering why anyone would be so brazen, and what they can do about it.
It happened in the Avenues District of Salt Lake City, along 5th Avenue, between 200 and 300 East.
Some of the people who live along this street are still stunned by what happened here. Others are saying they’ve seen it coming for a long time. Everyone agrees, it’s time to fight back.
The bad guys moved fast, rolling through the neighborhood in the middle of the night, scarring almost every car with spray painted graffiti. Victims woke up to discover the damage.
“Nice way to wake up in the morning,” said Derk Brown, obviously sneering with sarcasm.
Forrest Kessigner, a WWII veteran and Pearl Harbor survivor says he wasn’t surprised by the sneak attack.
“I was angry at first, especially since this is the second time it’s happened in the last month.”
Most victims had to stay home from work to answer police investigators’ questions and to clean up.
A recent move-in says she thought this neighborhood was safe.
“I think more of us should get involved and form a neighborhood watch group because we do live here,” said Amber Shanafelt.
Police say this incident should be a wake-up call for the Avenues District where residents are complacent and there are few neighborhood watch groups.
Detective Rick Wall said, “The issue that we have is people don’t want to get involved until they become a victim of a crime.”
