$100,000 Spree : 2 Charged in Window Smashings

Felony vandalism charges were filed Tuesday against two teen-agers accused of taking part in a 6-week spree in which $100,000 in damage was done with slingshots to the windows of dozens of cars and businesses, Los Angeles police said.

Michael Lord, 18, of Tarzana and Jeffrey Buice, 18, of Woodland Hills were each charged with two counts of vandalism in excess of $5,000 in damage, authorities said. Police said they will file a petition today seeking similar charges against a 17-year-old Tarzana boy who took part in the window-shooting spree across the West San Fernando Valley.

The three suspects were arrested at their homes a week ago. Police said they found the teen-agers by tracing a license-plate number provided by a witness who saw a van drive from a West Valley business where a window had been shot out.

“They said they were just thrill-seekers,” Detective Tim Yost said of the suspects’ motives. “There is evidence to connect them to about 100 of these crimes. They are good for an estimated $100,000 in damage.”

The vandalism occurred mostly on weekends, police said. The three suspects are believed to have picked cars and businesses mostly at random in commercial areas of Tarzana, Encino, Canoga Park and Woodland Hills, police said. However, police said the youths preyed mostly on expensive cars, such as Jaguars and Mercedes-Benzes.

“They liked the upscale cars,” Yost said.

The charges against Lord and Buice stem from 14 incidents of vandalism that occurred over two nights, police said. Because each night’s outing resulted in more than $5,000 in damage, authorities said they were able to charge the suspects with felony vandalism, which carries a penalty of up to 1 year in jail and a $10,000 fine.

Lord and Buice were freed in lieu of $2,000 bail after their arrests. The 17-year-old was released to his parents.