‘Hammer Slammer’ is Hellertown Man, Police Say

A vehicle vandal who became known as the “Hammer Slammer” for his preferred method of smashing windshields is a Hellertown borough man who is now charged with felony and misdemeanor criminal mischief, Bethlehem Police said Monday.

In announcing the arrest of Grant M. Chase, 37, police said he “appeared to deliberately target areas with limited lighting and no City camera coverage” in the “southeastern part of the South Side.” Police said Chase has been tied to incidents that occurred between Dec. 3, 2025 and March 22, 2026 on E. 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 9th streets, as well as in surrounding areas.

“In total, approximately 100 similar cases of vandalism have been reported throughout the region” since the late summer of 2025, a news release shared on the department’s Facebook page said.

Since last summer, Hellertown and Lower Saucon Police have investigated a number of incidents involving smashed car windshields, and the news release noted that partner agencies including borough police, Lower Saucon Township Police and the Lehigh University Police Department are involved in the investigation.

Bethlehem Police said their investigation was initially complicated by “a lack of clear residential surveillance footage, limited witness information and delayed reporting by victims who often did not immediately discover the damage to their vehicles.”

Ultimately, however, surveillance footage was obtained, which police said shows Chase “walking through neighborhoods during overnight hours and striking vehicle windshields with what is believed to be a hammer.”

After a search warrant was executed at Chase’s home last week, police said additional evidence was obtained and “officers subsequently conducted surveillance operations to monitor the suspect’s activity and movements.”

On the night of Saturday, March 21, police said Chase is suspected of causing approximately $8,000 in damage to a total of eight vehicles. Estimates for the damage to all of the vehicles police believe he struck run into the “tens of thousands of dollars,” the release noted.

Following an arraignment before Northampton County District Judge Nicholas Englesson in Bethlehem Monday, Chase was committed to the county prison in lieu of $50,000 straight bail.

A preliminary hearing before Englesson is scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 at 10:30 a.m., according to the docket filed in the case.

The docket did not list an attorney for Chase.

Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using information provided by the Bethlehem Police Department and Northampton County court records.