Lights Installed In Effort To Improve Silver Lake Safety
SILVER LAKE (CBSLA.com) — Some Silver Lake residents are fed up with vandalism in their neighborhood, where dozens of car owners have seen their tires slashed in recent months, and are demanding that the city do something to make the area safer.
On Thursday, Los Angeles City Councilman Mitch O'Farrell and the LAPD showed the concerned Silver Lake neighbors the enhanced lighting for the area after the rash of 40 tire-slashing incidents over the past 2½ months. But some of the residents still had doubts, according to KCAL9's Andrea Fujii.
"I just wonder if it'll deter the tire slasher," said Vanessa Gray, one of the victims.
The lights were installed less than two weeks ago, but "Mason," who didn't want his face shown, saw his tires slashed Monday and said the neighborhood needs more than lights.
"Of course, anything helps, but I think more active police patrol until this matter is met," Mason said.
The LAPD assured residents that it is investigating and has undercover patrols night and day.
O'Farrell said the lights are just the beginning.
"Lights at least discourage the behavior," O'Farrell said. "It's not the panacea to solve the crime, but we're going to work on that as well."
The councilman estimates thousands of dollars have been spent in replacing punctured tires, and with no one in custody, residents say they're constantly on the lookout for the suspect.
"It just made people kind of paranoid, because you don't know who it is," Gray said.
Police believe one person is responsible for the tire slashings, and they hope more victims will come forward because only about half the affected residents have filed police reports.
