Harrison police urge residents to stay alert after recent vehicle vandalism

Residents in the Carlisle Street neighborhood of Harrison are urged by police to keep an eye out for suspicious activity.

In recent weeks, more than one vehicle has been the target of vandalism.

Police Chief Brian Turack said his officers have been called at least two or three times this month.

Early Saturday, a resident reported that four tires on a vehicle were slashed while parked in the alley behind the 1200 block of Carlisle Street.

“They were slashed with a skinny, sharp object,” Turack said, stopping short of calling it a knife.

Earlier this month, on May 8, a contractor who parked his work van at 1007 Freeport Road, the Vereb Funeral Home, reported the vehicle had its window broken.

The van appeared to have been struck with a baseball bat.

Funeral home owner Patrick Vereb is embroiled in a felony investigation that alleges he took money for pet cremations that didn’t happen. He faces charges that include stealing nearly $660,000 from clients.

The van did not belong to Vereb, rather a construction worker who planned to perform repairs at the funeral home.

Both incidents are under investigation, Turack said.

He encouraged residents to be the eyes and ears of the neighborhood.

“We’d appreciate if residents see something suspicious that they report it immediately,” Turack said.