Another Reason to Hate Monday: 98 Pierced Tires

Scores of residents at a gated, security-patrolled apartment complex near South Coast Plaza awoke Monday to discover that their car tires had been punctured, police said.

About 68 cars at the Lakes apartments on Avenue of the Arts were found with flat tires -- 98 damaged tires in all, police said. The total damage was estimated at $14,700. “This is the biggest tire slashing incident I’ve seen in my 20 years here,” said Costa Mesa Police Sgt. Bob Ciszek.

A security guard called police about 11:30 p.m. Sunday to report the vandalism, which may have occurred between 10 and 11 p.m., Ciszek said. Police were investigating the crime but had no suspects, he said.

Residents said the vandalism was particularly frustrating in a complex with security. The management declined to comment.

Police said most of the cars targeted were in six underground parking structures at the sprawling, upscale 770-unit complex, which borders the county’s main performing arts district.

Police believe a knife was used to puncture the tires. Felony vandalism charges could result, police said.

Nearly all of the residents with ruined tires said they discovered the damage as they prepared to leave for work Monday.

R.W. Kelly said he was approaching his car about 8 a.m. when he saw that the right rear tire on his 1997 Crown Victoria was ruptured.

“I’m irritated, but I was lucky they only got one of my tires,” said Kelly, a salesman. “[Others] had two or three slashed.”

Like many of his neighbors, Kelly called the Automobile Club of Southern California to have the damage repaired. Tow trucks rolled in and out of the complex for hours.

“How can someone get away with slashing that many tires?” Kelly said. “I don’t know what kind of [vendetta] this person has ... but this is ridiculous.”