Ringwood police call for witnesses after crooks target 13 cars with a knife in Ireland St

More than a dozen cars were hit in Ireland St sometime on Monday night, with criminals walking along and slashing tyres with a knife.

Maroondah crime investigation unit acting Sergeant Robyn Waite said cars of various makes and models had been targeted in the random attack, with some also damaged in nearby Best St.

“It’s not common at all and this is the first case like this in ages,” she said.

“It’s malicious, very frustrating and expensive to the community — obviously the residents are quite concerned by the fact the whole street was targeted.”

One resident, who did not want to be named for fear of retribution, said the whole thing had left him frustrated and unsure of what to do.

Tyres on both his and his wife’s cars were slashed, meaning he missed an important meeting on Tuesday morning.

“The whole thing feels very malicious and you’re not sure if you will be targeted next or they’ll go somewhere else,” he said.

“There’s the immediate impact too and the sense of loss because there’s not much you can do with a tyre that’s been knifed.”

It has brought residents together though, he said, with them meeting on the street as they changed their tyres and called RACV.

“If there’s any good in this, it’s certainly increased the level of communication around here,” he said.

“We have that sense of camaraderie as we’ve gone through it together and none of us has any sense as to why it’s happened.”

Sgt Waite urged anyone with information to phone her on 9871 3057 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.