Vandals smash car windows in frequently hit River Heights neighbourhood

A spate of shattered windows on a Winnipeg street has a neighbourhood already concerned with vehicle vandalism on alert.

Several vehicles along Ash Street,betweenCorydonandGrosvenoravenues, were left with broken windowsovernight, homeowners discovered on Thursday morning.

This type of property crime is not uncommon forthe River Heights neighbourhood, whoseresidentsstarted a Smashed Windows Club on Facebookin early 2015. The attention led police toholdcommunity meetings and Manitoba Public Insuranceto cancel the deductible for most drivers whose vehicles werevandalized.

On Thursday, shards of glass littered the street and numerous car seats.CBCNews saw a half-dozen damaged vehicles, though some vehicles may have been driven away.

Hannah Molloy is frustrated with petty crimes in her neighbourhood. She figures her vehicle has been broken into four or five times in the last few years.

"This is a bummer," she said. "This is the second time it's happened since June as well."

Jon Waldman, co-founder of the online watch group, believes the area is experiencing a spike in property crime.

"We've seen it hit another peak this year," he said.

Police have previously told the group that ease of access to the neighbourhood for pedestriansand transit users makes the area an easytarget for vandals seeking aquick getaway.

TheWinnipeg Police Service said it had not received a report on the latest spate of vandalism as of lateThursday morning.

A request for neighbourhood crime statistics was not immediately available.