A suspect remains at large following a destructive joyride through Boston's Dorchester neighborhood that left more than a dozen vehicles in disarray. As reported by CBS Boston, a car theft quickly escalated to a motoring rampage as an unidentified individual, at the wheel of a stolen 1987 Buick Grand National, struck an estimated 15-20 cars on Monday afternoon. The chaotic scene unfolded after the owner, Dennis Harrington, had his car stolen while at work using a screwdriver.
According to witnesses, the elusive driver managed to almost hit a couple of children before swerving away on Ponzi Street. "He was coming down Ponzi Street and almost hit a couple of kids, and then swerved off," neighbor Damal Ray recounted in a statement obtained by CBS Boston. The trail of destruction ended when the car was found abandoned on Leslie Street after the thief fled on foot. Harrington, who had spent around $150,000 on the car, lamented the loss, "He literally just wrecked my life by joyriding the car for no reason. It just makes me sick," he told CBS Boston.
The incident also caught Luan Dai's vehicle in its swath of mayhem, with significant damage done to his Lexus sedan. "I was working today and then my mother called and said that my car had gotten hit. I was shocked," Dai shared in an interview with CBS Boston. Diaz's car, only four months into his ownership, was one of several casualties as the suspect plowed into vehicles along Centre Street. The owner's utilization of an AirTag allowed police to track the car's deteriorating journey around the neighborhood.
Additional details provided by WCVB include Harrington's statement where he described his stolen car as "one of a kind." Further complicating the case, the vehicle had recently been fitted with a brand-new motor valued at more than $200,000. Despite the efforts to swiftly locate the suspect, Boston police have yet to make any arrests, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward.
As the investigation continues, the Boston Police Department has been sifting through evidence, including a neighbor's home surveillance footage that captured the moment Dai's Lexus was struck, as detailed by WCVB.
Further reports by NBC Boston have confirmed the scale of the incident, with the police's active search for the driver continuing into the week.
