Sheepshead Bay residents seek vandalism suspect wanted for smashing cars
SHEEPSHEAD BAY, Brooklyn (WABC) -- Residents in Brooklyn's Sheepshead Bay neighborhood are asking for the public's help identifying a man they believe is responsible for damaging more than 20 vehicles and, in a separate incident under police investigation, groping a woman.
The vandalism was discovered over the weekend after multiple vehicles were damaged Friday night within a radius of several blocks, according to neighbors.
Mark Bletnitsky said his son discovered the damage early in the morning.
"My son was going to work at 5 o'clock in the morning he came out, he says, 'dad, my windshields' broken,'" Bletnitsky said.
After reviewing footage from a home security camera, Bletnitsky said it showed a person jumping onto the vehicle, shattering the windshield.
"He didn't steal anything, he just damaged vehicles," Bletnitsky said.
Bletnitsky said more than 20 vehicles were damaged. A local City Council member also shared photos on social media and said the same person appeared to be responsible for the incidents.
"I want to get him myself before the cops do," Bletnitsky said.
In a separate incident, video shared with the NYPD shows a young man running up to a woman on 14th Street and groping her before fleeing. The woman turns around after the encounter.
Neighbors told Eyewitness News they believe the person shown in that video is the same individual seen damaging vehicles nearby. They said the incident involving the woman prompted another neighbor to intervene, leading to a confrontation.
That neighbor was subsequently arrested on charges of criminal obstruction of breathing and harassment, but no arrest has been made for the vandalism.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the incidents and determine how they are connected.
Neighbors who believe the vandalism suspect and the person seen in the groping video are the same individual are urging anyone with video that clearly shows his face to provide it to police.
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