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Vandals Slash 130 Tires In Sebring

Gary Pinnell/Highlands Today

Leon Watson writes down the tire sizes so new ones can be ordered. Knife marks can be seen in some tires.

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By Gary Pinnell | Highlands Today

Published: May 24, 2008

SEBRING — Someone knifed nearly every tire on nearly every vehicle on the lot Friday night at Rufus Brown Motors. And if you know who it is, it'll be worth $1,000.

On Saturday morning, salesmen were walking down the rows of Jeeps, Mercurys, Hondas, Dodges and Accuras, writing down information, and preparing to order replacement tires.

"A couple of dealers have called and offered to help," said Leon Watson. "But they'll all be closed Memorial Day. So on Tuesday, we'll start working on it."

The good news: insurance will pay for most of the damage, which Watson estimated at $25,000. After that, all three dozen vehicles will have a new set of rubber. And the other good news, if there is a silver lining, is that the vehicles themselves were not vandalized.

"They just popped the tires with a sharp knife," said Watson. He suspects two or more vandals were involved, because it would have taken one person too long to walk around the acreage between Sebring and Sun 'n Lake.

Investigators from the Highlands County Sheriff's Office lifted fingerprints from some of the vehicles, and footprints from beside the tires.

"They're going to send them to the state database," Watson said.

In the meantime, he said, "We're offering a $1,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators."

Call 386-4368 or 449-0062 for more information.

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