The Gaffney Police Department is investigating an overnight incident during which someone slashed 27 tires on eight state-owned vehicles at the Department of Social Services.

According to a police report, the incident occurred between 6 p.m. March 12 and 7 a.m. March 13 at the DSS parking lot at 1434 N. Limestone St.

Police were given the identity of several individuals who reportedly were angry with DSS, but there were no updates about the investigation as of press time Tuesday.

Larry Wall, director of the DSS office in Gaffney, said the vandalism was disappointing on many levels. Times are tight at the state budget level, he said. “For the state to have this additional cost, unplanned and unbudgeted, it’s really disheartening,” he said.

Wall said DSS had all of the vehicles fixed as quickly as possible Monday. “It took the better part of (Monday),” he said.

The state-owned vehicles are used for staff members to handle emergency calls, conduct home visits, and transport foster children, Wall said.