Send this story Print this story

Adjust text size

Two teens arrested in 31 tire slashings in two neighborhoods
First set remains under investigation

by Glenn Wohltmann

Two Pleasanton teens face felony charges in two of three recent tire-slashing incidents over the last month.

"On April 19, two boys, ages 14 and 15, were arrested in connection with the multiple vandalisms to tires on parked cars," a Pleasanton Police Department news release said. "During interrogations both boys admitted to slashing the tires on dozens of cars in Pleasanton."

At least 13 tire-slashings occurred April 10 and April 11 in the Sutter Gate area, on Sutter Gate Avenue, Laramie Gate Avenue, Laramie Gate Circle and Laramie Gate Way, with nine more residents filing reports the next day. Tires on 18 vehicles in the Birdland neighborhood were reported slashed on April 16 and 17 in the 2400 block of Raven Road, in the 4700 block of Mohr Avenue, in the 2400 block of Crestline Road, and on Woodthrush and Willowren ways.

The two juveniles were booked then released into their parents' custody. The report notes that a third teen was also named and is under investigation for his connection to the tire-slashings in the two neighborhoods.

Pleasanton police Sgt. Maria Munayer said the teens confessed the slashings were done as a prank.

The case against the teens will be filed with the Alameda County Juvenile Probation Department and felony vandalism charges are expected to be sought for all three boys. They or their families could be ordered to pay restitution.

Munayer said the juveniles were apparently not connected with a previous occurrence of tire-slashings, which took place late March 23 or early March 24, according to police reports.

In that case, 28 cars on four streets in the Valley Trails neighborhood were vandalized: 14 on Valley Trails Drive, 10 on Yellowstone Court, three on Cumberland Gap Court, and one on Isle Royal Court. That case remains under investigation.