More cars vandalized in NE Philly this morning

A day after a 21-year-old man was arrested for slashing tires in Northeast Philadelphia, vandals early today damaged more than a dozen cars with a caustic chemical in the Crescentville neighborhood.

The latest spree was reported about 4:30 a.m. on the 600 block of Van Kirk Street.

Initial reports indicated that an acid-like caustic liquid was thrown on more than a dozen cars, damaging their paint jobs.

Vehicles in various Northeast neighborhoods have been vandalized since October, causing thousands of dollars in damage. In most of those incidents, tires had been slashed or punctured, and some cars were hit more than once on different days.

On Tuesday, police arrested Quincy Kramer, of the 3300 block of Englewood Street, on criminal mischief charges for allegedly flattening nine tires in his Mayfair neighbor.

Police say Kramer does not appear responsible for the rash of other tire puncturings and slashings.

"I think we have several copycats going on at the same time," Capt. John McGinnis, commander of Northeast Detectives said yesterday.

McGinnis urged neighbors not to let down their guards with Kramer's arrest.

A reward totaling $7,500 has also been posted for information leading to arrests, but it is not clear how the money will be doled out now that police believe they are dealing with more than one individual or groups of individuals.