Cops: Man Walked Up and Down Boca Raton Street Smashing Car Windows

Benjamin Robert Connolly (Photo: Palm Beach County Jail)

A man was arrested early Saturday after he allegedly walked along streets in Boca Raton smashing the windows of multiple parked vehicles in a random spree of vandalism with no apparent motive.

Benjamin Robert Connolly, 50, of Boca Raton, was taken into custody around 1:17 a.m. May 2 after Boca Raton police responded to reports of vandalism in progress, according to arrest records and a probable cause affidavit. An officer responding to the area said he observed Connolly near a white Toyota SUV with a shattered rear driver-side window. According to the affidavit, Connolly told the officer he was “going to go for a walk and hit my vehicle.” The report redacted the location of two of the incidents, but listed the others have occurring on SW 6th Place, SW 18th Street and Camino Real.

Police linked Connolly to damage at several other locations in the adjacent area that night. Vehicles with reported broken or shattered windows and windshields included a white Subaru sedan, a black Jeep Gladiator, a black Volkswagen, a green Ford utility vehicle and at least one additional car, with total damages estimated in the thousands of dollars, the reports state. Officers said they recovered an orange window punch tool from Connolly’s left pocket during a search following his arrest. He invoked his right to remain silent almost immediately, the report said, and police stopped questioning him.

Connolly was charged with numerous counts of criminal mischief over $1,000 and criminal mischief between $200 and $1,000. He remained lodged in the Palm Beach County Jail on Monday in lieu of $4,000 combined bail for the charges.