Anger at paint vandals

1:26pm Wednesday 3rd September 2008

FAMILIES are disappointed with police investigations after vandals attacked their cars and homes in Wantage.

Yobs went on a vandalism spree with cans of red and green paint in Springfield Road on August 25, daubing graffiti on two properties. The following day they damaged six cars and two houses in Harcourt Road.

But residents said officers had been slow to visit them and assess the damage, despite the offences being reported as soon as they were discovered.

Mother-of-three Natasha Waldman, 36, and her husband James Franklin, 36, of Harcourt Road had their two cars sprayed with paint.

Mrs Waldman, a primary school teacher, said she spent two hours scrubbing it off. She said: "I just couldn't believe it because we don't live in that kind of area. I can't believe someone can deface someone's property without any thought.

"It went from someone writing swear words on someone's car, to spray paint on cars all the way down the road. Every car had their bodywork spray painted on one side.

"They also tagged the bus shelter and the pavements with their names. And they painted someone's front door with a red stick man.

"No one from the police came out to see us until Thursday. At first they told me they hadn't even allocated an officer, saying it's under review. It doesn't exactly make you feel very safe. Even if someone just came down and put a note through our door, that would have been better than nothing."

A 38-year-old resident, of Harcourt Road, who asked not to be named, said his wife's Mercedes was sprayed with an obscene word. He said: "I was quite shocked. They did some obscenities on the road. There's a lot of old people living round here and it's not very nice for them seeing it on the floor.

"I'm not very pleased with the police, they haven't been out and they haven't knocked on our door. We reported it early on Tuesday morning."

Angie Wilkins, 37, also of Harcourt Road, said her husband Paul, 44, had his van window painted. She said: "It was just a shock really because you don't expect something like that round here.

"I am a bit disappointed with the police reaction. I know it's not crime of the century but it would have been nice if they had come down and at least looked at the damage. The kids know they're going to get away with it."

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said the offences in Harcourt Road happened between 12.30am and 7am on Tuesday, August 26. She added: "Officers have been investigating the offences since they happened, which has included house-to-house enquiries with neighbours and other people who might have been in the area at the time."

She said when the victims reported the crimes, none of them had seen anything, which is why other witnesses were a priority. She added: "The police will visit all of the victims."

Sgt Greg Stewert, said: "The police are thoroughly investigating who did this. At this stage there is no suggestion that the motive is anything other than a selfish, mindless act of vandalism."

Anyone with information should contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.