Los Angeles Times

Twerking vandals cause more than $25,000 in damage to car fleet

Video shows teens dancing atop a pink VW Beetle at a cleaning business.

- By Summer Lin

Here’s one for the you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up file: Three teenagers stand accused of twerking on a Glendora cleaning company’s pink and white Volkswagen Beetles — and causing thousands of dollars in damage.

According to Pink Sponge Home Cleaning cofounder Jessica Ahlgrim, she and her employees arrived at the business on the morning of April 20 to find “complete devastatio­n.”

Almost 15 company cars had been vandalized earlier that day — tail lights and headlights bashed in, side mirrors torn off, windows shattered. And just for good measure, company vacuums and mops had been kicked and thrown on the ground.

Another shock came when the Glendora Police Department obtained video from the security cameras covering the parking lot. The video showed three young people twerking on one of the company’s pink Volkswagen­s, as well as throwing items at and kicking cars over a two-hour period.

“They didn’t steal anything,” Ahlgrim said. “They just terrorized. All they did was break things. It was just shattering, honestly.”

A 15-year-old male, 14year-old female and 15-yearold female have been arrested on suspicion of vandalism, according to Glendora Police Department Cpl. Sean Ward. The three were issued citations and released to their parents or guardians, Ward said, and the motive is unknown at this time. Their names were not released because they are minors.

Ahlgrim said her insurer denied her claim for reimbursem­ent, so she has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for what she said was $25,000 in damage. As of Tuesday afternoon, more than $6,500 had been raised.

In the meantime, Ahlgrim has decided to keep her business open, giving her clients a heads up that there might be delayed arrival times because almost 80% of the company’s fleet has been damaged.

The business has experience­d some break-ins and burglaries in the past, but the latest incident was definitely the most severe vandalism Ahlgrim has seen.

“This is the highest it’s ever escalated,” she said. “This is unacceptab­le.”

 ?? Jessica Ahlgrim ?? GLENDORA POLICE said three teenagers were arrested on suspicion of vandalism at Pink Sponge Home Cleaning. About 15 cars were damaged.
Jessica Ahlgrim GLENDORA POLICE said three teenagers were arrested on suspicion of vandalism at Pink Sponge Home Cleaning. About 15 cars were damaged.

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