Countywide : Vandal Likes Cut of Expensive Clothes

A vandal with an eye for expensive clothing has been visiting apparel and department stores in South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island, slashing men’s and women’s clothing on the racks and causing an estimated $45,000 damage so far.

The first case was reported in Costa Mesa last November, and the most recent was last Thursday in Newport Beach.

Costa Mesa police reported clothing worth about $6,500 damaged at the South Coast Plaza Robinson’s store since November. “They have no idea how many times this has occurred,” said Lt. Rick Johnson. “It’s just over a period of time.”

In Newport Beach, a branch of the same department store has suffered most of the $23,000 in damage reported by Fashion Island shops since early January, according to Officer Kent Stoddard.

Other stores reporting similar damage are Nordstrom and Alcott & Andrews at South Coast Plaza and the Neiman-Marcus department store and Posh Gentlemen’s Clothing in Fashion Island.

“He or they use some type of sharp object, possibly a razor,” Stoddard said. “He slashes mostly men’s coats but also some expensive lady’s dresses.”

“The cuts are primarily on the backs and the sleeves--about a half-inch to 1 1/2 inches long,” Johnson said. “It can only take a matter of seconds to go in and do that kind of damage.”

Neither police department reported any suspects.

“It could be anybody from a disgruntled employee or customer to somebody that could have a large question mark about their mental stability,” Johnson said. “Vandalism generally is a crime done by youths, but usually kids wouldn’t be in those kinds of stores.”

“Hopefully,” said Stoddard, “an employee will see him doing it and call us.”