West Hill business appeals for help after ‘pointless’ vandalism
Vandals have scratched the West Hill Auto Repair car twice in the space of three months. - Credit: Archant
Owners of a West Hill car body repair shop have been left needing to fix their own vehicles after vandals inflicted £1,000 of damamge.
Chris Harland shows the damage by vandals to his West Hill Auto Repair car. - Credit: Archant
Chris and Marion Sharland, of West Hill Auto Repair, have had to fork out on CCTV and have branded the criminal acts as ‘pointless’.
They called police when they discovered the entire length of their black Citroen C2 courtesy car had been scratched while it was parked on Lower Broad Oak Road.
The damage was inflicted sometime between Friday, March 24, and Monday, March 27. The couple say it is not the first time one of their vehicles has been targetted, with a van damaged last year.
They have spent £280 on CCTV equipment for their West Hill Road workshop.
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Chris said: “I can do the repairs myself, but it would be a great expense and it means I’m not working on someone else’s car. I would like to try and find out who is behind it.
“There’s nothing to be gained by it [the vandalism]. If someone breaks into a car, there’s some reason or motive behind it, but to vandalise it seems pointless.”
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The 53-year-old Sidmouth resident estimated the repair bill to be more than £650 for each vehicle - to cover the cost of the paint, labour and scratched signage.
He added: “It’s got to be the same person.
“We try to keep the cars nice and tidy. It’s a little embarrassing to send it out with lines on it, but we do not want to put it right and have it happen again. I hope raising awareness will make people think twice.”
Anyone with information is urged to call the police on 101, crime reference: CR/022641/17.
