Several trees in downtown Los Angeles were cut down this weekend, apparently by chainsaw-wielding vandals.
The attacks seemed to take place overnight Friday. Photos of the downed trees appeared on social media and in the Los Angeles Times, which reported Sunday that they were located along South Grand Avenue between First Street and Wilshire Boulevard.
At least five toppled trees were spotted at Grand Avenue and Wells Fargo Center, Olympic Street and Figueroa Boulevard, Broadway and Cesar Chavez Avenue, and at Grand Avenue and Fifth Street, according to ABC7.
Some people noted on the online message board Reddit that the area is home to many street cameras, which conceivably could assist authorities in finding the perpetrators.
One man told KNX News' Jon Baird it's inexcusable and poor behavior for anyone to cut down the trees.
“That's really terrible because that's what makes the community so beautiful, and we don't have that many trees to begin with," he said. "So [it's] a tragedy.”
Another man called it outrageous.
"Not only that, we need the trees," he said. "We need the trees so badly and I understand there were some big trees that they cut down too, not just the small ones. It's terrible.”
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department told City News Service on Sunday that the watch commander had no knowledge of the incidents or of a report being taken, and that police were not reviewing footage at this time.
Mayor Karen Bass issued a statement provided to ABC7, saying, "That someone would do this is truly beyond comprehension."
She added, "City public works crews are assessing the damage and we will be making plans to quickly replace these damaged trees. LAPD has opened an investigation into what happened and those responsible must be held accountable."
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According to Channel 7, security guards at a pair of area buildings said surveillance video showed an unidentified vandal riding a bicycle and in possession of a chainsaw, however, the footage was not immediately released and a description of the suspect was not made available.
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