South Philadelphia kickboxing studio struck by pickax vandal for third time, owner says

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — A South Philadelphia kickboxing studio has been targeted by a pickax-wielding vandal three times since February, leaving the owner and her clients on edge as police continue to investigate.

Surveillance video from Monday night shows a masked person smashing the glass door of CKO Kickboxing at Oregon Avenue and 21st Street. The door remained boarded up on Tuesday with shattered glass still on the sidewalk.

The owner, who wanted to remain anonymous for her safety, said the latest incident follows two earlier attacks.

“The first incident happened February 14th, Valentine’s morning, which seemed like a random attack,” she said, adding that two other businesses on the block were also hit that day.

The second incident occurred on March 24. That time, the suspect was actually apprehended by police.

“The second time actually was scarier. It happened last Tuesday night when I had a gym full of people, about 10 people in class. The suspect approached the window with a pickax, the same instrument of crime that was used the first time,” the owner said.

She called 911, and the suspect was taken into custody. But less than a week later, the vandalism happened again.

Sources told Action News the suspect was placed on an involuntary psychiatric hold after the incident on March 24, and no charges were filed.

The owner believes the same woman is responsible for all three incidents.

In the most recent video from Monday, the person is masked. During last week’s incident, the woman was not, and the owner saw her face. The interior camera that captured Monday’s incident wasn’t installed until after the March 24 incident.

The owner said she has no idea why her business is being targeted.

“It’s never anyone I’ve had a relationship with, never anyone that took class here. I don’t know the person at all,” she said.

“I would love for this person to get some help. You don’t want this to happen again to anyone. You don’t want this to escalate to violence on a person. It’s one thing to hit my business and cost me money that I don’t have,” she added.

Philadelphia police said they are actively investigating the vandalism.