Slashed tires at homes with BLM yard signs. Police look into possible link
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SACRAMENTO, California (KCRA) — Sacramento police are investigating several recent vandalisms and whether those vandalisms are tied to homes displaying Black Lives Matter signs.
The vandalisms have occurred in and around the Elmhurst neighborhood.
Jason Dillard lives nearby and was hit by vandals sometime late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
“I came out, and I’m getting ready to put my tools in my car, and I go to unlock it and I feel like I’m a little taller than my car,” Dillard explained.
He soon realized the reason for that: Two flat tires on the driver’s side of his SUV along with a third tire on the passenger side.
Right then he knew somebody had slashed his tires.
Dillard can’t think of a good reason for someone to vandalize his vehicle in this way.
“I don’t have enemies,” he said. “I’m a stand-up guy and I’m a good person.”
Dillard and his family believe it might have something to do with a yard sign they’ve displayed near their front porch for nearly a year. It’s a sign that reads “Black Lives Matter #wereinthistogether.”
“It’s not just me that it’s happened to. Other people that have the Black Lives Matter signs,” Dillard said.
Neighbors have sounded off on community social media pages for the area in recent weeks, indicating they had their tires slashed, and that they, too, display BLM signs in their yards.
KCRA 3 has learned of at least three other vandalism victims dating back to January.
Some of those victims said the Sacramento Police Department is in touch with them and is investigating a possible connection to tire slashings at homes displaying the signs.
In a statement to KCRA 3, police said: “The Sacramento Police Department is aware of multiple vandalisms that have occurred in the Elmhurst neighborhood. A detective has been assigned to determine if there is any connection between these vandalisms. The Sacramento Police Department urges the community to report any suspicious activities in the area.”
Dealing with the slashed tires and lost work time to get things fixed is a hassle, Dillard said. Thinking about what might have motivated the vandalism is a major disappointment.
“It shouldn’t have happened. It’s wrong,” said Dillard. “Hatred has never, ever in history, made anybody’s lives better.”
KCRA 3 asked Sacramento police how many reports it has of vandalism or slashed tires it’s investigating from homes with the signs. The department said it will get those numbers to us in a few days.
In the meantime, police are asking people to report incidents of vandalism either over the phone or through the department’s online police report system.
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