This is near where I live. Kind of your average beater bike. Far as I can tell nothing stolen other then the lock. They cut the down tube and the wheel..

My best guess is it is just a bike hater.

Maybe just they did not like where the bike was parked and assumed that someone will now steal it or get the message.

Nasty

Where was it parked ? bus stop ?

is it in front of a private business? maybe the owner of the business?

I could use the rear wheel!

+1
Or in front of a private residence?
The owner doesn't like you locking your bike within eyesight of his property.
Destroy your bike, steal the lock, so you get the message.

EDIT:
Boston?
Hmmm....could this be Beacon Hill?

Ya, Beacon Hill (corner of Cambridge and Irving for those who want to know). It was parked in a much neglected part of Beacon Hill. Frequently see large amounts of trash around this area. There is a Starbucks right there and the next business up is the property management for Mass General Hospital. Neither seem to me to be the type to go out destroying bikes. Especially when you consider how often they area is flooded with trash.

I used to live in Boston. And had an incident with a resident in Beacon Hill. That's why I got suspicious when I saw the red brick.

I had driven there to pick up some computer equipment off CL. I parked on a side street, and the owner of the building kept looking out his window. Then stepped out to accost me before I walked away. He didn't recognize me and wanted to know what was my business being there, and why am I parking in front of his property. I told him I was there to see someone and since it's a public street, it was none of his business.
I'm not trying to stereotype Beacon Hill residents because of one bad apple. Since I've ran across such people in a number of places.

If it's a commercial area as described, I can't understand why those two businesses would care to do such an act. Go inside and ask if they saw anyone vandalize your bike.
Perhaps across the street?

Ya, the neighbors in BH can be really tough.

Like I said sort of a neglected area. Across the street is a bank. I swear they can't even get to cleaning up the trash in front of their store front.

Maybe someone was in the process of stealing it when they were surprised, and ran away? Who knows.

I wish I had a Specialized "beater."

I doubt it....who would steal a bike by rendering it useless by sawing through the frame and front wheel/tire? The answer is a moron of course. But they took the lock?!?

Moved from C & V.

cutting the frame is senseless. At one time I was going out with this gal that lived in ok neighborhood. I had just got a new Mustang GT and I parked it on the street sort of in front of her place. I had the rear of the car near the lot line. It wasn't 5 minutes before I had her neighbor yelling at us for parking a crap car near his home. Later found out that he worked for GM if I would have driven a GM car he wouldn't of cared.