Police seeking public help after weekend spate of vehicle vandalism in Hamilton Hill and Mount Pleasant

Schenectady police told a Jan. 6 council committee they are investigating multiple nights of vehicle vandalism concentrated in the Hamilton Hill and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods and asked residents for help identifying suspects.

Councilmember McLaren requested the update after reports of repeated tire slashings and other damage over two weekends. Police described the pattern as concentrated in the overnight hours and said detectives and patrol units are increasing coverage.

Chief Clifford, Schenectady Police Department, said the department released a press statement with photographs and asked the public to call a tips line. “Our tips line is 518-788-6566,” Clifford told the committee. He said detectives are working overnight shifts on the investigation: “We have our detective assigned to this case. That works our 8 PM to 4 AM, 8th, time frame.”

Clifford said detectives are consulting school resource officers, probation officers and other city networks to identify likely juvenile suspects and that the department had already increased patrols overnight in the affected neighborhoods. He asked residents to lock vehicles, avoid leaving items inside cars, use motion-detecting lights where possible and report suspicious activity or video footage to police.

Committee members asked for details about the scale of the vandalism. Police reported about 25 to 30 vehicles were targeted on the first night of incidents; the department said two vehicles were stolen across the incidents and later recovered. Officers asked residents to save video evidence and contact police; the department said there is an online upload option but requested callers contact the department first to verify and authenticate evidence.

Clifford said the department will attempt to identify the people in the released photos and pursue restitution for victims where possible. No arrest was reported during the committee discussion.