Residents of one South Philly neighborhood got a rude awakening Tuesday after close to a dozen cars and a business were vandalized by a group of teens overnight.
It was around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday when the four teens allegedly made their way through several blocks along 2nd Street between Mifflin and Wolf Streets -- smashing windows, throwing white paint and slashing tires, police said.
In all, 11 cars were vandalized many with significant tire and paint damage. In one case, a windshield was smashed by the teens, police said. The windows of the Doc Union's Pub at 2nd and Mifflin were also broken.
Anna Keiser said she called police after being awoken by the noise and seeing the teens vandalize two of her neighbors' cars from her window.
"I saw them go over to the two cars across the street on either side of the street," she said.
Police quickly made their way to the area and pulled over a light-colored car near the 100 block of Gladstone Street.
"When the juveniles were questioned by police, it was observed that they had wet paint on them," Lt. Michael Giacobbe told NBC Philadelphia Tuesday.
The paint's color matched that thrown on cars and sidewalks only a few blocks away.
The teens -- who ranged in age between 15 and 17-years-old -- were arrested, police said. A motive for the crime is unclear, but investigators believe it was simply juvenile mischief.
While it may have been fun for the teens, neighborhood residents weren't laughing.
"It's really a shame how people don't respect other people's property," Rich Merritt said.
