Vandal Douses 30 Hondas With Caustic Liquid

A vandal has poured caustic liquid on more than 30 Honda cars in the Corona area during the last two weeks and left behind notes criticizing owners for buying foreign cars.

The liquid ate through the paint and into the metal of about 20 cars at Honda Cars of Corona on Sept. 9, causing an estimated $22,000 in damage, Police Sgt. Roger Brabant said.

About 12 other Hondas parked on streets were damaged with a corrosive liquid last week, Brabant said.

The vandal left a note at the dealership warning that to avoid further damage, dealership officials should furnish the name and address of someone at Honda International headquarters “who will listen to and act on my complaints,” according to the police report.

The note specified that the message be written on a bed sheet and displayed on a fence.

Notes left on cars owned by Corona and Coronita residents advised victims to take their cars to the Corona Honda dealership for free repairs, and chastised them for not buying U.S. manufacturers’ cars, Brabant said.

Frank Gilmore, general sales manager at Honda Cars of Corona, said he has no idea who damaged the cars.

The dealership is offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of the vandal.