“There was nothing we could do”: Student’s car vandalized by group in Providence
"I was just like, are they on my car right now? And my roommates were kind of just like, don’t look, don’t worry about it right now, because there was nothing we could do."
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE)- Providence police are investigating after a local college student’s car was heavily vandalized Saturday night.
Video obtained by ABC6 shows hectic moments leading up to a violent vandalism.
The videos show a large group of young people throwing rocks at car windows, stomping on the hood of an SUV, some even attempting to break down the door of the apartment building.
The incident happened in the area of Pembroke Avenue and Chad Brown Street. Residents told ABC6 the destruction lasted several hours.
Students who had their cars vandalized are left cleaning up the mess while police try to find those responsible.
Emma Lacey, a junior at Bryant, told ABC6 she lives in the home and said a conversation between a dozens of people on the street. Her car was totaled during the melee.
“The kids outside started picking up the gravel from out here and throwing it at our house and on our cars,” Lacey told ABC6.
Hours after the crowd dispersed, Lacey showed ABC6 the extensive damage to her mom’s SUV. The windshield was bashed in after someone stood and jumped on it, foot prints on the hood, tires popped, and her side mirrors completely torn off.
Lacey said she didn’t even want to see what was happening to the car, and hid inside. The young people outside were pelting rocks at the students who were still out on the front porch
“I was just like, are they on my car right now? And my roommates were kind of just like, don’t look, don’t worry about it right now, because there was nothing we could do.”
A police report shared with ABC6 News says officers responded to Pembroke Avenue after a report of a large disturbance. There, they found people in the middle of the street playing music.
Officer dispersed the crowd. They were then approached by several people between the ages of 18 and 20 who told them their cars had been damaged by the crowd of people who had been in the area.
“One of the witnesses on scene stated that people in the crowd began to throw rocks at the parked cars in the driveway,” the report stated.
A total of seven cars were damaged. One, had every window bashed besides from the driver’s side, and both of the rear-view mirrors were broken.
Providence Police Commander Thomas Verdi told ABC6 News detectives are investigating.
Friends and family of Lacey have started a GoFundMe for the cause, those who are interested in donating can click here.
No arrests have been made yet, according to Cmmdr. Verdi.
