Car vandals leave Sidford victims “angry and frustrated”

Offences labelled as “mindless destruction”.

VANDALS who have caused hundreds of pounds of damage to parked vehicles in Sidford have left innocent victims feeling “angry and frustrated”.

Police in Sidmouth have appealed for witnesses after a spate incidents in which cars were scratched in the Warrens Mead and Orchard Close area.

One resident has suffered on several separate occasions and other householders and visitors have also made complaints.

Detectives and neighbourhood police team members are investigating the offences.

Anthony Hall, 32, of Orchard Close, has seen his Audi A4 targeted on three times in fivee months. Pension administrator Mr Hall branded the repeated criminal damage as “mindless destruction”.

“I can’t think of any conceivable reason why anyone would want to do this to me – it has clearly been done maliciously,” he said. “I only bought the car in February and it was scratched in March, July and at the weekend just gone. I feel it’s a waste of money getting the vehicle repaired through the fear of it happening again.

“These are fairly significant scratches. I’ve been quoted in excess of �500 plus VAT for repairs. Who’s to say it’s not going to happen again in the next six weeks. I’m angry and very frustrated that it’s happening repeatedly. I’ve been targeted for no particular reason.”

PCSO Alex Powe told the Herald: “Unfortunately we are currently suffering a number of criminal damages to vehicles at the junction of Warrens Mead and Orchard Close in Sidford.

“This criminal behaviour is totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

“The local neighbourhood policing team at Sidmouth are working closely with Honiton CID to investigate these crimes.

“I am requesting local residents, especially those who live in Warrens Mead and Orchard Close, to be extra vigilant and report any damage via 999 or the non-emergency number 101.”