Cars seized by Naperville police vandalized; 2 set afire

Vandals caused about $50,000 damage to about 70 vehicles seized by Naperville police and awaiting auction, Naperville police Lt. Joel Truemper said.

Police and fire officials were called to the secured lot -- the location of which police asked not to be identified -- at 5:04 p.m. Saturday for a report of a fire, Truemper said.

When officials arrived, they found two vehicles on fire and the others damaged. Every vehicle had at least two windows broken out, Truemper said.

The vehicles are stored in an isolated area, so nearby residents didn't notice anything was wrong until they saw smoke, he said.

The vehicles that were damaged were seized by police after drug or drunken driving convictions and do not include vehicles that are towed by police after a person has been arrested, Truemper said.

The vehicles were set to be auctioned off by the city in October, but now officials aren't sure what they are going to do. Officials will survey the damage Monday and determine which vehicles are salvageable, Truemper said.

Funds used from the auction typically fund programs such as DUI education and DUI checkpoints, Truemper said.

The incident is under investigation, he said.