Owners count the cost as 15 vehicles damaged by yobs

Jan 3 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

VANDALS slashed tyres on 15 vehicles in a Northumberland seaside town causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Cars and vans parked on two streets in Blyth were targeted late on New Year’s Eve and early on New Year’s Day.

The attacks on Hargrave Court and Chester Grove left the vehicles’ owners counting the cost.

With most garages shut on New Year’s Day they had to wait until yesterday to get their tyres replaced, leaving them unable to use their cars for more than 24 hours.

Speaking last night, motorists and police hit out at the mindless act of vandalism.

Susan Harland, who has lived on Hargrave Court for 11 years, had one tyre on her Renault Clio slashed.

She said: “You think, ‘What do they get out of it?’

“They are walking the streets with knives, that is the most frightening thing about it. If you went out and confronted them, you could end up stabbed. It is just ridiculous.

“I said, ‘If this is my New Year, I am going to hibernate for the rest of it’.”

Mrs Harland, 49, who works in the town’s Netto store, replaced her wheel with her spare but will have to pay £20 for a new replacement.

Her son Liam Armstrong’s car had two tyres slashed – each of which is worth £100.

Although he was able to replace one wheel with his spare as soon as he found out, his vehicle was still a wheel short last night as he awaited a replacement from a garage.

Ian Smith, of Hargrave Court, had two tyres slashed on his Vauxhall Vectra and another slashed on his Citroen Berlingo van.

He had to pay £225 to replace the car tyres, which he was unable to do until yesterday, and a further £75 for the van’s tyre.

The 48-year-old account manager did not notice the damage until he tried to drive his car on New Year’s Day morning.

He said: “It is just the pain they cause.”

Alan Hindle, who also lives on Hargrave Court, had two tyres on his Renault Leguna company car slashed.

The 48-year old, who is a tank supervisor with Permastore, was not aware the damage had been done until the police called at his door on New Year’s Day.

Mr Hindle was also not able to get his vehicle repaired before yesterday.

He described the attack as needless
vandalism and said: “I think it was just
young ’uns. If they had done it to one car,
you would say they were after somebody.”

Blyth Neighbourhood Inspector Bill Fawcett said: “This was mindless vandalism which caused damage amounting to thousands of pounds.

“Not only is this costly for the vehicle owners but it has also caused a great deal of inconvenience.

“We believe during these hours there would have been a lot of people still up celebrating the New Year and we would urge anyone who saw anything suspicious to get in touch.”

Anyone who witnessed the attacks or who has any information on them is asked to ring Blyth police on 0845 604-3043.