Reports of smashed car windows on East Village side streets

East Village residents woke up yesterday to find several cars vandalized overnight. 

Mammad Mahmoodi, co-founder and executive director of East Village Loves NYC, came to his car yesterday morning to find that someone smashed in his rear window and the passenger side window and door. 

The thief made off with some shoes Mahmoodi planned to donate yesterday at the Sixth Street Community Center, the home base for East Village Loves NYC. There were other reports of smash-and-grabs on Fifth Street and Avenue D and Sixth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B (and likely more).

Mahmoodi filed a report with the 9th Precinct, which apparently has turned this into a felony case.

Man randomly damages front window at Azaleas on 2nd Avenue; 'Might be the last straw for me'

An unidentified man smashed the front window at Azaleas on Second Avenue with a bike lock yesterday morning.

"This was just a senseless random act," said Cindy Hahn, who owns the 18-year-old boutique selling lingerie and swimwear between Ninth Street and St. Mark's Place. "I think he was in some heated argument in front of Veselka and just threw a big old bike lock into my window out of anger."

Hahn commended her neighbors, who quickly came to her aid. The folks at Fresco Cafe a few storefronts away stopped by to make sure that she was OK and used some spare plywood to cover the broken glass. The staff at Veselka flagged down the NYPD.

The vandalism is another example of the uptick in crime and quality-of-life issues in recent months, especially along parts of Second Avenue, that residents and business owners have previously noted.

"The police were helpful but it was too hard to look for the guy as he could have gone anywhere," Hahn said. "I’m still a little shook as it was such a loud bang I thought it was a [gun shot]. Doesn’t sound so out of question from all I’ve been seeing in news. This was 10:54 a.m. on Second Avenue. What is happening?"

Azaleas, which moved to this storefront in 2012 after 10 years on 10th Street, had only just reopened for in-store shopping following the COVID-19 PAUSE. The broken door just adds to the stress Hahn has felt as a small business owner these past few months.

"Might be the last straw for me," she said.

Plywood report: How neighborhood businesses are protecting their storefronts

[Photo by Steven]

After two nights marked by vandalism and break ins, business owners have been taking extra steps to protect their storefronts ... here's a small sampling ...



Target had their space on 14th Street and Avenue A boarded up on Sunday, which didn't prevent people from getting inside last night... appears that they added an extra layer of plywood...




[Photo by Steven]




[Photo by Steven]


[Photo by Steven]




[The former Gem Spa via Steven]

Some business owners are also using their gates to share supportive messages...


[Photo by Steven]


[Three Kings Tattoo on 10th Street]




[Photo by Lola Saénz]

Some dick tagged the Tompkins Square Park playground

EVG reader Angela Moore shared these photos from the Tompkins Square Park playground along Avenue A ... where someone drew a dick on the children's slide ... and a tree ...



Not sure if kids will buy that this is an interpretative drawing of R2-D2.

Noted

EVG reader Carl Bentsen shares this photo... showing that someone used a branch to smash the back window of this Lexus on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B... the branch has been at the Miracle Garden down the street...

A sign of vandalism on East 2nd Street

This morning, an EVG reader found that her car and at least two others had been vandalized on East Second Street between Avenue A and First Avenue.

Someone used a staple gun to attach tarot cards to the car tires. The reader, who said that the tires will need to be replaced, filed a police report.

Paint splattering van vandals strike again

Back in January, we noted the above on East Seventh Street near Avenue A... at the time, we weren't sure if it was some kind of van-owner-created art... or vandalism. (Turned out to be vandalism, or whatever you'd like to call throwing paint bombs at vans.)

Fast-forward to yesterday... a resident reports the following...

"This is my van and I found the lovely work this morning. Odd thing is that I moved the van into that spot at 4:30 am and didn't notice it when I left on foot at 11 am."

The resident discovered the splatter upon returning three hours later.

"The paint was still warm and came off a bit when I came back at 2:15 pm. The police [officer] said he noticed it earlier and was wondering if that was intentional. (Ha! No.)

Such a pain in the ass."

Noted

Steven Hirsch notes this vandalism this morning on East 10th Street and Avenue A... Someone punctured/flattened three of the van's four tires...

Vandal(s) place glue-like substance on Citi Bike seats along East 10th Street

EVG reader Andrew G. passes along these photos this morning ... noting that someone placed a "glue-like substance" on Citi Bike seats parked on East 10th Street next to Tompkins Square Park.

And artfully so from the look of the swirl...



Previously on EV Grieve:
[Updated] Someone befouled this Citi Bikes docking station with a large piece of dog poop; plus signs

More Halloween-related vandalism? Smashed side view mirrors on East Sixth Street

Earlier today, we pointed out that someone had smashed a lot of car windows on Fourth Street between Avenue A and Avenue B...

EV Grieve reader Ted Roden noted that someone knocked off several side view mirrors on Sixth Street between Avenue B and Avenue C as well...

Cars on East First Street tagged with neon-pink spray paint

A reader sends along these photos, noting that someone took a can of neon-pink spray paint to what looks like almost every car along the south side of First Street between First and Second Avenues.