National Park Service rangers at Cape Hatteras National Seashore are investigating multiple reports of tires being intentionally punctured at parking areas on Bodie and Hatteras islands.

Between July 11 and July 21, owners of seven different vehicles reported tire puncture damage. In most of the cases, at least four tires were punctured.

Five out of seven of the vandalized vehicles were Jeep Wranglers.

A similar incident is under investigation by the Kill Devil Hills Police Department.

The dates and locations of the vandalism incidents are as follows:

– July 11, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., four tires were punctured on a Jeep Wrangler parked approximately one mile north of Rodanthe along NC 12.

– July 11, between 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., five tires were punctured on a Jeep Wrangler parked in the Ramp 27 parking lot.

– July 12, between 11:30 a.m. and 3:45 p.m., five tires were punctured on a Jeep Wrangler parked just north of Coquina Beach.

– July 17, between 12:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., four tires were punctured on a Jeep Wrangler at the Coquina Beach parking lot.

– July 17, Raleigh Street Beach Access, Kill Devil Hills, all four oversized tires punctured on Jeep Wrangler between 2 and 4:15 p.m., and all four tires punctured on a GMC Denali which was parked at 3:30 p.m. Vehicle owners are local.

– July 21, between 9 p.m. on July 20 and 10 a.m., four tires were punctured on a Toyota Corolla at the Ramp 23 parking lot.

– July 21, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., four tires were punctured on a Jeep Wrangler at the Coquina Beach parking lot.

– July 21, between 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m., three tires were punctured at the Ramp 34 parking lot.

No tire vandalism has been reported in the Town of Nags Head.

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Chief Ranger Boone Vandzura reports that in previous years, puncture incidents have occurred at Coquina Beach, but not to this degree and not in the summertime.

If visitors and residents witnessed unusual activity near Jeep Wranglers, or the other two vandalized vehicles, on the dates listed above, they are asked to help solve these crimes by reporting tips anonymously.

Contact the National Park Service’s Investigative Services Branch (ISB) or the darecommunitycrimeline.org/tips with any information that could help investigators.

National Park Service ISB Tip Line:

– Call or text the ISB Tip Line at 888-653-0009

– Online at nps.gov/isb and click “Submit a Tip”

– Email nps_isb@nps.gov

National Park Service Rangers are increasing patrols at all Seashore parking lots and are coordinating investigative efforts with Dare County, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head law enforcement officials. These investigations are ongoing.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Astronaut Eric Boe visits Outer Banks

Economic impact of Dare airport examined