A man suspected of smashing car windows with an ax in San Diego’s City Heights neighborhood was taken into custody, authorities reported Friday.
Officers responded around 2:40 a.m. Monday to reports of a man, later identified as Zan Mar, who allegedly destroyed property at an apartment complex in the 3800 block of Menlo Avenue, according to the San Diego Police Department
Police said multiple windows of vehicles were broken, and the suspect also attempted to damage the complex’s gate.
Neighbors told NBC 7 the man struck 11 vehicles in a one block stretch of Menlo Avenue.
Zina Vasquez goes to work at 4:30 a.m. On Monday, she was greeted by San Diego police officers as she approached her car.
“I ran back inside hysterical crying. I couldn’t even breathe,” she said.
Her 2017 Nissan Sentra had a smashed windshield and broken headlight. It was in the shop on Friday, and her insurance company was still waiting on the estimate.
“It’s sad because you work hard for your stuff, for somebody to do that,” Vasquez said.
Police say after the cars were damaged, Mar returned to the neighborhood. Another resident followed him and snapped some photos. Vasquez says police used them to identify the suspect.
Mar was booked into San Diego Central Jail on suspicion of felony vandalism. San Diego County Sheriff’s records indicate Mar is no longer in the jail. According to neighbors, he has not been seen back on Menlo Avenue.
No further information was immediately available.