PHOENIX — Police are asking for the public's help after what they are calling a series of "bias-related" crimes in central Phoenix.
Phoenix police say they investigated a series of nine incidents of criminal damage to vehicles in the area between 22nd and 32nd streets, and McDowell and Thomas roads.
Out of those nine vehicles, seven of them reportedly have a "bias element involved," according to police.
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Officials investigated six incidents on Wednesday and three incidents on Saturday.
The vandalism is leaving neighbors in that suburb asking why.
“I don’t know, I don’t know what motivates people. I don’t know if it’s just young people wanting to shock people or what,” said Chris Horak, a victim of the vandalism.
Horak said racial epithets, symbols and cuss words were spray-painted onto his white truck on Wednesday morning. He cleaned it all up only to have it tagged once again on Saturday with the same messages.
“You know, you’re filing police reports and you’re going to ACE and getting the stuff to wipe all the paint off. It’s exhausting,” said Horak. “They didn’t do it facing the house, so that when you come out you go oh my gosh. They did it so that when you’re driving down the street you can see it from a hundred yards away."
Horak has since moved his truck elsewhere. He and his neighbors are now focused on staying positive.
“The more that you go and you acknowledge it and the more that you fear it or let it affect you and let it affect other people, the worse it gets. So the best you can really do is just be there for your neighbors,” said James Atkisson, another victim of the vandalism.
Police have not released any information about a possible suspect.
They are asking for help from residents in the area or surrounding neighborhoods, specifically asking for anyone who may have surveillance video to reach out to the Phoenix Police Department.
