Residents of a south Dublin housing estate are trying to uncover the cause of damage to around 40 cars which has resulted in repair bills totalling tens of thousands of euro.
Animal activity is thought to be the cause, with wildlife experts saying there are a number of potential suspects.
The problem began last August when one resident took his car to a garage after it displayed a number of warning lights and found that some of the wiring had been cut.
It subsequently transpired that a number of his neighbours had the same issue and to date, up to 40 cars in the Stillorgan housing estate have been damaged, with the total estimated repair bill at €40,000.
Residents have taken a number of measures to try to prevent damage to their vehicles, including wrapping their cars in chicken wire and fencing.
The problem has occurred mainly with new cars and vandalism was initially suspected but a number of residents have been advised that foxes are the most likely culprits.
The average cost for repairing the damaged wires is around €500 but in some cases damage to the value of €20,000 has been caused to vehicles.
Locals said residents of Marsham Court in Stillorgan are now resorting to parking in the homes of friends and families or paying for local private car parks to protect their cars overnight.
They also say that many householders have reported that their friends and families do not want to visit them because of concerns about parking their cars in the area.
Wildlife experts said the current cold snap may be a factor in what is happening in this estate and that there are a number of potential suspects.
Biodiversity Officer at Trinity College Dublin Collie Ennis said foxes, rodents or pine martens could be the cause of the damage.
He said the issue has occurred in other countries and that there are special defence mechanisms that can be attached to cars in order to deter animals from chewing on their wires.
He also said the move from petroleum-based plastics to soy and plant based materials being used by car manufacturers in wiring means that animals may be more attracted to these items.
Mr Ennis also said the current cold snap could be a factor in whats happening to the cars and that there are a number of potential suspects.
"Foxes and rodents, maybe pine martins. They are attracted to the heat. They're attracted to anything they can chew, like your dog chews your couch chair in your home.
"There are new parts in cars that are made up of organic materials that are even more attractive to the likes of rodents who will actually make a meal out of them, especially in newer cars.
"The way to kind of defend your car against this is to invest in some sleeve covers, some chew proof sleeve covers for all those cables, all those tubes, and that will prevent the animals having a nibble on your brand new motor."
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council said it cannot do anything to discourage foxes from building dens in this area because of the need to preserve biodiversity and local ecosystems.
Garret O'Connor, who lives in Marsham Court, Stillorgan first discovered the problem in August when he turned on his car at 5am about to drive to work for his shift as a postman.
"I turned on my ignition and got warning lights and sensor lights. I brought my car to the mechanic, and he said these wires underneath your car have been severed.
"And it transpired that various other neighbours had had the same problem, my next door neighbour and beyond. To begin with, I suspected vandalism.
"That was what worried me. And then it became apparent, I think, that it wasn't."
His neighbour Ray Ward, who is a science teacher, has fallen victim to the issue twice in recent months.
"This is not a clean cut. There's an animal involved in this. Initially, we thought squirrels, rats or foxes.
"There's video evidence of other cars, where foxes are circling and so at this stage, we're certain it's foxes.
"There are fewer cars parked outside on the road than there used to be, because people are finding somewhere else to park.
"In this house, he's parking his cars at his parents, who are close by, other people down the road are going up to the Beacon and paying six euro overnight to park their cars.
"There are people who visit others in the estate who aren't visiting at night. They don't want to park their cars here in case they get damaged."
