VENTURA : Windows Smashed in Overnight Spree

The windows of about 45 vehicles, including one owned by a Ventura police corporal, were smashed by vandals during an overnight crime spree in Ventura, authorities said Thursday.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen or heard of that many in one night,” Ventura police desk officer Cindy Turner said.

Although a damage estimate was not available from detectives, Ventura Police Cpl. Bill Dzuro, whose own car had a side window smashed, said the total could easily reach into the thousands.

“We’re talking at least 40 cars that had either a side or rear window smashed,” he said. “The repair on my side window will be $110, and rear windows cost upwards of $300, so you’re looking at well over $5,000.”

Dzuro said the vandals apparently chose the cars at random in the mid-town area of the city, in the Ondulando neighborhood and in east Ventura.

The vandalism involved smashing or shooting out the windows with a pellet gun, and apparently occurred between 8 p.m. Wednesday and about 1 a.m. Thursday, Dzuro said.

Although some residents later said they thought they’d heard suspicious noises, no one called police, he said.

“A neighbor of mine said she heard a popping sound, then tires squealing and someone saying, ‘I got it,’ or something to that effect,” he said. “I could have throttled her for not calling police.”

Dzuro said a detective will be assigned to investigate the crimes, but it is unlikely that a suspect will be arrested “unless someone comes forward.”

“This happens from time to time, immature people out cruising, doing something for kicks,” he said.

“It’s just wanton vandalism, not gang-related, but directed at just everybody.”

Desk officers were kept busy Thursday filling out reports from victims.

“I’ve taken 16 reports so far today,” desk officer Sandy Butler said. “That’s the most I’ve taken of any one kind of report in my 12 years here.”