Shops Allegedly Hired Vandals to Damage Cars

Metro Police are promising more arrests in a scheme in which people were hired by at least three auto body shops to spray paint-eating acid on thousands of vehicles.

Police believe shops trying to generate more business enlisted the aid of bike-riding vandals who sprayed acid on thousands of cars, trucks, vans and others vehicles in the last 12 months.

The vandals have hit parking lots, shopping centers, apartment complexes, vehicles parked along city streets, and even sprayed acid on new cars parked in the lot at a Ford dealership.

Police have received 2,000 crime reports on the acid incidents since November, and they estimate less than 30% of the cases are reported to authorities.

Two of the three body shops named have since closed down and police plan to question the owners.

One of the men arrested in the costly scam was arraigned Wednesday on charges of vandalizing at least three vehicles. Justice of the Peace Bill Jansen ordered Robert Lamont Johnson, 22, held in lieu of $25,000 bail, saying his actions posed an economic threat to the community.