Police have arrested a 37-year-old man following an investigation of damaged cars throughout Northampton County going back to summer of last year.

According to police, someone targeted parked cars in residential neighborhoods, smashing windshields. This mysterious “Hammer Slammer” then began to strike on the Southside, deliberately seeking vehicle parked in places of poor lighting and no camera coverage.

The investigation was hampered by the lack of civilian surveillance, limited witness information and delayed reporting by victims who often did not immediately discover the damage to their vehicles.

After dozens of reported incidents, the Community Service Unit and Criminal Investigations Division identified Grant Chase of Hellertown as the alleged culprit of incidents along five Southside streets and about 100 similar incidents throughout the region.

During one night between March 21 and 22, 2026, eight vehicles were damaged with an estimated repair cost of $8,000. Total damages are estimated in the tens of thousands of dollars.

Chase was identified using what surveillance recording were available and a search warrant was issued for his residence. Clothing matching that of the hammer-wielding suspect was discovered.

Chase is charged with two counts of criminal mischief, misdemeanor, and once count of criminal mischief, felony. He was remanded to Northampton County Prison on $50,000 bail.