Vale of Belvoir: Vandals smash 40 car windows in mindless overnight crime spree
More than 40 cars neighbouring sleepy villages had their windows smashed and tyres slashed in a spree of mass vandalism during the early hours of this morning.
The gang of at least three yobs are believed to have caused thousands of pounds of damage to the cars which were wrecked between 1am and 7.30am.
The yobs smashed car windows and slashed the tyres - in the rural Vale of Belvoir - ten miles away from Leicester.
Police are hunting vandals after more than 40 cars in neighbouring villages had their windows smashed and tyres slashed in the early hours of this morning
The gang of at least three yobs are believed to have caused thousands of pounds of damage to the cars which were wrecked between 1am and 7.30am
Car owners in Thurmaston, Syston, East Goscote, Queniborough, Rearsby, Thrussington, Hoby, Frisby, Grimston and Waltham on the Wolds were among those targeted.
In High Street, Waltham, ten vehicles were targeted and in Brookside, Rearsby, seven cars had their windscreens or other windows smashed and tyres slashed.
One man whose car rear windscreen was smashed chased three hooded thugs seen running away and passed the registration of the car they were in to police.
Nothing appears to have been stolen in any of the incidents.
Reports from victims suggest the trail of destruction began in the early hours, at around 1am, but was still continuing more than four hours later.
Chris Bonnington, 32, whose BMW had its rear screen smashed in Thurmaston, said:
'I heard some noises outside at about 6.30am.
Reports from victims suggest the trail of destruction began in the early hours, at around 1am, but was still continuing more than four hours later
One man whose car rear windscreen was smashed chased three hooded thugs seen running away and passed the registration of the car they were in to police
'I went outside to find my rear screen smashed and I could hear more noises coming from nearby.
'I got my other car defrosted and as I was doing that three lads in a black Vauxhall
Vectra pulled up before driving off at speed.
'I couldn't see their faces because they were wearing hoods.
'I followed them along Herricks Avenue and Humberstone Lane into Thurmaston village.
'They were going flat out, through red lights and overtaking on the wrong side of the road.
'They then headed up to the Asda island and headed towards the Hobby Horse island.
Nothing appears to have been stolen in any of the incidents, despite the huge trail of destruction
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said that an investigation has been launched into the vandalism
'I was able to give police the registration as I was driving along and then I lost them.
'When I got back home and rang the police again they said they would be out to see me on Wednesday. I think it's ridiculous.'
One victim, in Rearsby, whose rear windscreen was smashed and had a tyre slashed on his Ford Mondeo estate, said: 'I discovered it at about 7.45.What's puzzling is the alarm didn't go off.
'I just don't know why people would do something like this. What have I done to hurt them?'
A neighbour, whose two-seater sports car had a side window smashed, said: 'I'm devastated, a neighbour knocked on the door to tell me the news. I love my car, it's not fair.'
The yobs smashed car windows and slashed the tyres - in the rural Vale of Belvoir - ten miles away from Leicester
Milkman, Tony Fowler, whose round covers a large part of the area affected by the vandalism, said: 'There were seven done along Brookside in Rearsby, four in Thrussington, three in Grimston, two in Frisby and three in Hoby.
'What a start to the new year for people waking up to this.'
Taxi driver Martin Taylor, who runs Martin's of Asfordby, said: 'I had a booking at Sproxton and on the way there I saw at least ten vehicles in High Street, Waltham with windows smashed.
'It absolutely infuriates me, it really does, it's just wanton damage.'
Another victim in East Goscote said: 'I needed the car to take my wife to work this morning. She's had to walk to work.
'It's going to cost me £75 for a new rear screen and £100 for two new tyres. I feel like strangling whoever did it.'
Enquiries are in the early stages and police would like to speak to anyone who saw or heard anything overnight
A spokesman for Leicestershire Police said: 'An investigation has been launched after a number of vehicles were damaged in Leicester and in villages in the region of the A607.
'At this stage we have received more than 40 reports of vehicles having their tyres slashed and rear windows being smashed.
'Reports have been received from a number of areas including Glenfield, Thurmaston, East Goscote, Rearsby, Frisby on the Wreake, Saxelby, Waltham on the Wolds.
'Enquiries are in the early stages and we'd like to speak to anyone who saw or heard anything overnight last night.