Someone punctured tires on more than 30 cars in Montgomery on Thursday night, and the town is offering a $2,000 reward to anyone who has information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandal.

"We are still adding them up," said Montgomery Police Officer Pete Lopes. "Sometimes it takes a while for the air to bleed out. We are talking in excess of 45 tires punctured on over 30 cars."

About half the cars are owned by West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, he said. The cars were parked along First Avenue or Fayetteville Pike, which run parallel to one another.

All of the cars parked in the WVU Tech physical plant parking lot along First Avenue were hit, said Scott Hurst, associate campus provost for the school. The cost of the damages is in the thousands of dollars for the school, he said.

"It's an area of about three blocks. They didn't get every single car. It's sporadic," Lopez said.

Lopez said he believes some owners haven't reported the vandalism yet because their tires are still holding air. He believes it happened sometime between 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday.

Police have a couple of leads but are looking for more, Lopez said.

"Based on the number of vehicles we think it was a random act of vandalism," he said.

Someone punctured tires on more than 30 cars in Montgomery on Thursday night, and the town is offering a $2,000 reward to anyone who has information leading to the arrest and conviction of the vandal.

"We are still adding them up," said Montgomery Police Officer Pete Lopes. "Sometimes it takes a while for the air to bleed out. We are talking in excess of 45 tires punctured on over 30 cars."

About half the cars are owned by West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery, he said. The cars were parked along First Avenue or Fayetteville Pike, which run parallel to one another.

All of the cars parked in the WVU Tech physical plant parking lot along First Avenue were hit, said Scott Hurst, associate campus provost for the school. The cost of the damages is in the thousands of dollars for the school, he said.

"It's an area of about three blocks. They didn't get every single car. It's sporadic," Lopez said.

Lopez said he believes some owners haven't reported the vandalism yet because their tires are still holding air. He believes it happened sometime between 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday.

Police have a couple of leads but are looking for more, Lopez said.

"Based on the number of vehicles we think it was a random act of vandalism," he said.

Lopez estimates the damages cost in excess of $2,200.

Montgomery City Attorney Brian Parsons, who is also a Fayette County assistant prosecuting attorney, suggested the $2,000 reward, said Mayor Jim Higgins.

"He said it is done from time to time in the county. We checked with the finance office and authorized the funds to be put up," Higgins said.

Higgins said he couldn't remember such a large-scale act of vandalism happening in Montgomery before.

"I would have to say in the 15 years I've been mayor, I've never known us to have anything of this magnitude," he said. "That's why it's particularly bothersome to me."

Police will keep a closer eye on parked cars to try and prevent such vandalism in the future, he said.

"There is no rhyme or reason to it right now, as far as we can tell," Higgins said.

To contact staff writer Gary Harki, use e-mail or call 348-5163.