VANDALS have slashed dozens of tyres across multiple suburban streets at Kahibah, leaving residents frustrated, late for work, out of pocket and "pissed off".
NRMA trucks and taxis could be seen in the area on Thursday morning as people made frantic calls to friends and family for help or tried to change deflated tyres in the heat.
Residents woke to the news a group of young people covered in dark clothing had stalked four Kahibah streets and slashed tyres on at least 20 cars, trucks, work vans and a motorhome parked on the kerb and in driveways.
One Beath Crescent resident, who asked to remain anonymous for her family's safety, told the Newcastle Herald she heard the commotion just before 11pm last night.
She said her neighbour had chased away a group of young people and called the police, and she then discovered two tyres on her P-plater son's four-wheel-drive had been slashed.
"It's extremely frustrating, especially with the price of tyres," she said on Thursday morning.
"Each of these tyres are $500, I had to run my son to work, he's an apprentice, so it's a whole inconvenience."
The woman called on a family member to help, and the pair spent the morning in the heat on the road outside her home trying to change the two tyres.
Another man, who also wished to remain anonymous, told the Herald he was meant to be heading on a trip in his motor home that morning.
He said he had seen on social media that tyres had been slashed on multiple vehicles and went straight outside to find his motor home had fallen victim on Firth Street.
He said he felt "pissed off".
"They're young kids and it's happening too much around here at the moment, they've got to do something about these kids, it's out of control," he said.
"They're just being absolute idiots and the police or someone needs to do something about it before someone gets hurt."
He said locals had been rattled by an incident in August where a man wielding a knife had stormed into the Friendly Grocer with a knife and demanded money before the staff member fought him off with a broom.
It remains unknown how old the offender was in that case.
The man had to call the NRMA for help changing the tyre on the heavy vehicle on Thursday.
"I tried to fix it, and can't, so the NRMA is out here and he's doing up and down the street," he said.
Multiple people could be seen out on the streets trying to change tyres and it's understood several called the NRMA.
One man was seen coming out of his home ready for work but was left in the lurch and baffled when he realised two tyres had been slashed on his car.
It's understood that in some cases, multiple residents of the same household had their cars damaged.
Lake Macquarie police have appealed to the public for help as they investigate the malicious damage.
Officers were called to Beath Crescent at Kahibah at about 10.45pm after reports four people covered in dark clothing had slashed tyres on several vehicles along the street.
"Police patrolled the nearby area and spoke with residents; however, they were unable to locate the group," a NSW Police spokesperson said.
Officers discovered 20 cars with damaged tyres on Beath Crescent, Frith Street, Wallsend Street and Hexham Street in the Lake Macquarie suburb.
As inquiries into the incident continue, police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
