By Staff
NILES – JD's Truck Stop, 1655 Mayflower, Niles, was among a number of truck stops in Berrien County at which trucks were vandalized over the weekend.
Police think one company's trucks were targeted for the vandalism.
Sometime during the overnight hours of Friday into the early morning hours of Saturday, unknown suspects targeted truck stops and travel plazas in Southwest lower Michigan, slashing tires and cutting brake lines of numerous semi tractor trailers parked there, said a Michigan State Police press release.
However, the only vehicles affected were the commercial trucks owned and operated by AREA Transport Co., a division of ADS Logistics LLC, of Homewood, Ill.
State Police said the suspects used a cordless electric drill to flatten tires, valued at $300 each. At least five Berrien County truck stops experienced this criminal activity.
At JD's in Niles, seven AREA Transportation units were damaged with 114 tires destroyed. Some of the truck drivers reported recent tension between AREA Transportation and other steel-hauling logistic companies.
Anyone with information is urged to contact their local State Police Post.
Authorities have not reported any similar events occurring in Indiana.