Police captured one alleged Northeast Philadelphia tire slasher on Monday, but they suspect that others are still on the loose.
Quincy Kramer, 21, of the 3300 block of Englewood St. in Mayfair, is responsible for puncturing the tires of nine vehicles late last Thursday in the area of Cottman and Rowland avenues, said Capt. Jack McGinnis of Northeast Detectives. Investigators identified Kramer with the help of surveillance video that led to civilian tips.
Officers found Kramer on Monday at his home, where they also found a sweat jacket matching the one that the suspect was seen in the video wearing, along with a knife he allegedly used in the crimes.
McGinnis declined to say if Kramer confessed his guilt. The suspect acted on sheer impulse, detectives believe.
“The motive was he just felt like doing something,” McGinnis said.
Kramer was charged with criminal mischief and possessing an instrument of crime. Both offenses are misdemeanors.
“They’re misdemeanor charges and for the crimes he committed against the community, (the charges) feel very inadequate,” McGinnis said at a news conference on Tuesday.
Kramer remained in custody Tuesday afternoon in lieu of $45,000 bail. He is scheduled for an April 26 preliminary hearing.
Kramer has not been linked to dozens of other tire slashing incidents that have plagued Mayfair and other Northeast neighborhoods in recent weeks.
“We do not believe he’s the lone tire slasher in the Northeast,” McGinnis said. “I think we have several copycats going on at the same time.”
McGinnis referred to the latest confirmed vandalism case that occurred early Sunday on the 1200 block of McKinley St. in Oxford Circle. A witness told police shortly after 1:35 a.m. that she had seen an Asian woman puncturing tires of cars parked on the block. Tire damage was discovered on nine cars.
The suspect was described as 22 to 26 years old, 5 feet 6 to 5 feet 7 inches tall, 120 to 125 pounds and petite. She had long dark hair and wore a white sweatshirt and sweatpants.
The vandal used a different technique than was used in tire slashing cases elsewhere, according to the detective captain.
“We think there’s a domestic aspect involved” in the McKinley Street incident, McGinnis said.
Reports of additional punctured tires in Mayfair early Tuesday were not confirmed as vandalism. Nails appeared to be the culprit, McGinnis said.
Meanwhile, detectives continue to investigate dozens of other confirmed vandalism instances.
On March 18, as many as three cars were similarly vandalized in the area of Erdrick Street and Princeton Avenue. On March 12, tires were punctured on at least five cars on the 4000 blocks of Aldine and Teesdale streets.
On Feb. 22, tires were punctured on two cars on the 7300 block of Erdrick St. Three days earlier, at least 18 cars were the victims of similar vandalism on the 4000 blocks of Aldine and Teesdale streets. On Feb. 13, tires were punctured on at least seven cars on the same block of Aldine Street.
Authorities are offering a $7,500 reward for information leading to the arrest of the culprits. Call Northeast Detectives at 215–686–3153 to report information. ••
