The Philadelphia Police Department is currently investigating a string of vehicular vandalism that took place late Sunday night on Washington Avenue. As reported by FOX 29, over a dozen cars, specifically nineteen in total, experienced broken windows and were ransacked, with several items stolen from inside. The incidents are believed to have occurred between 9 p.m. and 12 a.m. along the 1600 to 1800 blocks.
Amid the investigations, Lily Gebbia, a local who relies on her vehicle for her InstaCart deliveries, described the block as a frequent target for crime. After experiencing the second break-in within two weeks, Gebbia disclosed to CBS News, "This block is hit all the time." The financial toll of these incidents has residents like Gebbia and her neighbor Pasquarello planning to relocate away from their South Philly neighborhood.
The financial burden of the repeated vandalism weighs heavily on victims. Some surveillance footage, obtained from a local funeral home, captures an individual surveying the cars with a flashlight. However, no arrests have been made thus far as police continue their investigation into the matter. Gebbia told 6ABC about the theft of her debit and Uber Eats cards during a previous vandalism incident. Alongside her was an individual who lamented the $300 lost this month alone due to damages.
