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Police: Cocoa Beach mayor among half-dozen victims of car vandalism

COCOA BEACH, Fla. — A half-dozen people woke up Monday to learn their vehicle had been vandalized, the Cocoa Beach Police Department said.

The rash of burglaries happened between 12 a.m. and 5 a.m. along South Brevard Avenue from South 10th Street to South 11th Street, police said.

Investigators said some vehicles were damaged and others had slashed tires.

Keep an eye out Cocoa Beach residents, my neighbors and I were hit by vandals slashing tires this morning (multiple cars...

Posted by Ben Malik on Monday, March 13, 2017

Among the victims, police said, was Cocoa Beach Mayor Ben Malik.

Officials said the tires of each of his three vehicles were slashed.

Malik said the incident caused his son to arrive at school late and cause him and his wife to arrive at work late.

"Happy Monday," he said. "We live in a nice community and everybody looks out for each other, so it's kind of a crappy way to wake up."

The vandalism appears to be random, police said.

Victim Debra Kremer, who's vacationing in the area, said two of her rental car's tires were slashed.

"I'm really not happy. Not a good way to start the morning," she said. I think this is very bad. They did a lot of damage and need to be prosecuted."

James Wainwright said his son was preparing to return to Gainesville after spring break when he noticed that he had three flat tires.

"At that point, we go, 'Oh, look. Mom has two flats,'" he said. "It's kind of like the three bears."

Investigators canvassed the area Monday in search of surveillance cameras. Police said they routinely patrol the area, but they said they expect to increase patrols.

The vandals remain at large.

No other details were given.