In “an extremely unusual” event, the windshields on nine student vehicles were damaged in the span of five hours.
According to the Vanderbilt University Police Department, an unidentified person came onto campus between the midnight and 5 a.m. on Oct. 16 and smashed the glass on the students’ cars.
“In the past, we have come across an occasional vandalized vehicle … but we never before have seen an incident on such a large scale within this short period of time,” said VUPD Commander Andrew Atwood.
Another unique aspect of the crime is that the vandalism was not concentrated in one location nor did it seem purposeful or targeted at a specific group of people.
“Various students and staff members reported that they had noticed certain vehicles had been damaged. … We searched all the parking lots and then contacted the owners of the vandalized vehicles,” Atwood said.
The vandalized vehicles were found in various locations around campus, with one car in Lot No. 1, two in Lot No. 2, two in Lot No. 3, one at Kappa Alpha Theta and three at Beta Theta Pi.
Some of the students discovered their damaged cars before being contacted by VUPD. Senior Brooke Van Dusen found his at Beta when returning from the library at 5:30 a.m.
“I saw that the windshield of my car had been smashed. … It looked like someone had kicked it in,” he said. “At first I thought it was something personal but then I realized it had happened to other cars, as well.”
Senior Jennie Todd, another victim of the vandalism, said she didn’t think there was a motive behind the selection of cars.
“It seemed like my car had just been really randomly selected. … I think it was because it was facing the street … (so) the positioning of my car made it easier to smash in the windshield maybe,” Todd said.
Atwood said as soon as VUPD first received notice of the incident, one of the department’s detectives was called in to assist in gathering evidence.
Senior Owen Remeika, whose windshield was also damaged, said the detective was trying to identify a link between the different cases, using magnet strip and iron filing powder to get shoe prints and identify a pattern.
“It appeared as though all the cars had been vandalized in the same way,” Remeika said.
Once the investigation was underway, VUPD filed reports with both Vanderbilt police and the metro police.
While the investigation is still ongoing and no suspect has yet been confirmed, Atwood said progress is still being made.
“We have at least two possible suspects who were caught on an area camera,” he said. “There are certain things the detective just aren’t putting out at this moment, that I don’t have access to … but as far as I know, the investigation team is hard at work trying to identify who did this.”
After the experience, Todd said she is no longer comfortable with having her car on campus.
“I am genuinely afraid to park my car again … but I figure there is nothing I can do about it, so I just have to be brave and carry on,” Todd said.
Other students do not seem to be as fearful. Remeika said the incident was more of an annoyance than anything.
“I don’t think I have as strong of a reaction as most people … I don’t really have any reservations about parking on campus in the future,” he said. “In fact I think because of the incident, the police department will be more vigilant.”
Atwood said VUPD is doing everything in its power to help victims recover and feel safe.
“If any student as any additional information that he/she thinks may in any way be helpful to add to the investigation or sees anything suspicious please do not hesitate to give us a call,” he said.
