Tires on several SUVs and trucks deflated in Elmira, police investigating

CBC

5 days ago

Police are investigating after receiving several reports from people in Elmira who woke up to find the air let out of the tires on their vehicles Monday morning.
Officers were in Elmira to investigate more than 30 reports of property damage to SUVs, trucks and crossover vehicles that had been parked in driveways and on roadways in the South Parkwood Boulevard and Timber Trail Road area, police said. It's believed the air was let out between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m.. Monday morning.
"The tires on the vehicles were deflated using a device that made the tires slowly leak overnight," police said in a release. "The suspects then left notes on the vehicle's windshields that stated, 'We are defending ourselves against climate change, air pollution and unsafe drivers.'"
Police say there was not permanent damage to the tires. The investigation is ongoing.
A group called Tyre Extinguishers emailed CBC News to take responsibility, saying the group let the air out of tires and claimed they targetted approximately 100 SUVs and pick-up trucks, "disrupting their ability to be driven."
"This was done to bring attention to the immense danger these gas guzzlers present to the environment, pedestrians, cyclists and other motorists," the group said in their email.
The same group also took responsibility for letting the air out of tires in Waterloo region in 2022. Through their website, the group appears to be based in the United Kingdom.