Vandals strike 6 hybrid cars

A vandalism report involving a Toyota Prius parked overnight on the west side of Petaluma highlights a disturbing trend, police said Saturday.

Someone is stalking the popular hybrids.

Six such cars have been vandalized in Petaluma in the past two weeks, all but one of them parked on the city's west side.

Five times a brick, rock or hammer has been thrown through a window. Once, a fender was dented, police said.

"We have no idea at this point" who is responsible or why, police Sgt. Mark Hunter said. "And it's possible that there are vandalisms that have occurred that have not yet been reported."

The first case was reported March 30 after a rock was thrown through the window of a Prius on Oak Street not far from Oak Hill Park.

Subsequent reports involved damage to cars on April 3 on St. Francis Drive; April 4 on El Rose Drive; April 5 on Fourth Street; and Saturday on Webster Street and on West Street.

Anyone whose car has been vandalized should let police know at 778-4372, Hunter said.