Chicago Police

Man Charged After Several Cars Damaged Near Chicago's Loop

The most recent vandalism occured early Thursday, marking the third parking garage to be hit in as many days

A man has been charged after multiple cars were damaged in Chicago just blocks from the parking garages where dozens of vehicles were also vandalized this week, Chicago police said. 

Patrick Newton, 29, faces five felony counts of criminal damage to property of up to $10,000 and two misdemeanor counts of criminal damage to property less than $500. 

The charges come one day after Newton was taken into custody near a street where multiple cars were damaged. 

According to authorities, witnesses reported he was throwing rocks in the 0-100 block of South Wells Thursday.

He was described by police as a "person of interest," but authorities said it was "too preliminary" to determine if he was connected to the similar vandalisms at area parking garages. 

Witnesses reported the man at the scene Thursday appeared to be the same man seen in surveillance images released by police in connection with the parking garage incidents. 

Concrete could be seen inside some vehicles on Wells Street. 

The most recent parking garage vandalism occured early Thursday around 12:47 a.m. at a parking garage in the 0-100 block of East Adams Street.

Approximately 17 vehicles on different floors of the 12-story parking garage were damaged when a rock was thrown through the back windshield of each car, Chicago police said. Nothing was reported stolen from any of the vehicles, according to police.

Chicago police put out an alert Wednesday afternoon for two similar crimes at parking garages in the Loop the day before. The first took place at around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday in the 300 block of South Franklin Street, and the second about an hour later in the 100 block of West Madison Street, near Willis Tower.

There, police said a total of 24 vehicles parked on multiple floors were all damaged in the same manner, with a rock thrown through the rear window of each car.

Police shared a surveillance photo of a suspect they described as an African-American male between the ages of 30 and 35 and standing at about 5'8" and weighing 180 pounds.

Police also issued a warning to keep the perimeter of your property well lit and to update security video equipment, as well as keeping doors and windows secured and to report any suspicious activity. If you are a victim of vandalism, authorities also asked that you call police immediately and do not touch anything from the scene until officers arrive.

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