Cook calls car smashing ‘disgusting’ after cars damaged in western suburbs, including Dalkeith, Mosman Park

A group of thugs who vandalised almost 100 vehicles in Perth’s most exclusive suburbs — in an act labelled as “disgusting” by the WA Premier — are still on the run. Police first descended on the western suburbs about 12.40am on Wednesday after receiving a report of three men breaking into cars in Dalkeith. In the hours that followed more reports started to roll in about other cars being damaged outside several multi-million dollar homes in Peppermint Grove, Mosman Park, Wembley, Crawley and Fremantle. On Thursday morning a police spokeswoman said the investigation into the reports remained ongoing. It is believed those responsible were aged between 18 and 25 and were carrying an “unknown weapon” to smash the windows. There have been no reports of anything being stolen. Nobody has been charged. Premier Roger Cook on Thursday said the “it’s a very disgusting act.” “This is large-scale vandalism,” he said. “This is disgusting, and it’s widespread.” Mr Cook said he expected the police will find the culprits and “throw the book at them.” City of Nedlands councillor Noel Youngman, who lives on Colin Road, Dalkeith, said he saw three boys “smashing” his son’s window in the early hours of Wednesday. “I heard a sawing noise and thought it was strange and so I went outside and saw three boys smashing my son’s car window in,” Cr Youngman said. “They were wearing dark pants and long sleeve shirts. “I immediately called the police, and they were here within minutes . . . they were obviously already in the area. “My neighbour checked her CCTV footage this morning and saw the boys had jumped her fence.” WA Police Inspector Geoff DeSanges said he believed the men committed the offences on foot before getting into a car and driving to the next suburb “It would appear that there was an element of committing the offences on foot, simply because of the proximity of the offences,” he said. “The vehicles were all parked almost exclusively on the side of the road ... and then they’ve travelled some distance to the next suburb. “We believe a series of offences were committed, (then they got into) a vehicle, moved to another location and did the same again.” Insp. DeSanges slammed the thugs as having “total disregard” for other people’s property and said they were “not welcome” in the WA community. “The inconvenience caused to the owners of those vehicles would be monumental ... (like) the inconvenience of having repairs done and the costs,” he said. “This was wanton damage without rhyme or reason. “(The offenders were) callous and had total disregard for the property of others and individuals like these are not welcome in our community.” The City of Nedlands said its “immediate response” to the crime spree was to increase in ranger patrols. “The rangers will be patrolling throughout the City (of Nedlands), especially in Dalkeith, and will report any suspicious activity to the police,” a spokesperson said. Police urge anyone who had their car damaged to call police on 131 444 or attend a local police station to make a report. Information, CCTV or dash-cam of the incidents can be uploaded to police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online here.Police investigating after over 90 cars damaged across Peppermint Grove, Dalkeith and Mosman Park suburbs