Police hunt drunk after 'senseless' car attacks

Published on Friday 3 April 2009 09:45

POLICE are hunting a drunk who is thought to have carried out a spate of attacks on parked cars along a busy town centre road, causing £9000 worth of damage.

Residents on Wood Terrace and East Main Street in Armadale have been left out of pocket after the same man was spotted vandalising their cars while walking along the road in two separate incidents.

The first happened at around 7.30pm last Sunday when the wing mirrors of two cars were kicked off in Wood Terrace.

Then, sometime between 3pm on Monday and 8am on Tuesday this week, the same two cars and a further eight vehicles were badly scratched as well as more wing mirror damage in East Main Street.

Expectant father David Grant, 26, had his Kia scratched on Monday and is furious his insurance premium will now go up as a result.

"It's a brand new car I've got. I only bought it in February and it cost me 10,000," said the forklift driver. "There's no need for this sort of thing at all. I got my wing mirror kicked three weeks ago as well.

"I have a 150 excess to pay on my insurance and this will force my premiums up as well. I'll lose my no claims bonus and what if it happens again?

"Money's tight as it is without this kind of thing, especially with a baby on the way."

Bill Mullen, 69, who is a former butcher, suffers from Parkinson's Disease. He had his wing mirror on his Peugeot broken and his car scratched in two attacks.

He said: "Because they were two separate incidents I had to claim twice so it means I have to pay double my excess.

"I work all my life and I have to put up with this kind of thing? It's just absolutely senseless.

"My car is a mobility car and I wouldn't be able to get around without it.

"Having my wing mirror broken makes it much more difficult for me use the car."

Another neighbour, who had her Skoda scratched, said: "It's just mindless vandalism, that's all it is. You should be able to leave your car parked anywhere, especially outside your home, and not have to worry about this kind of thing.

"Whether they were on drink or drugs it doesn't matter. There's no excuse."

Police estimated the total damage at 9000 and are appealing for witnesses to come forward with information on the attacks.

They have also posted 150 leaflets to residents in the area to raise awareness of the crimes.

The suspect is described as male, between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 9ins, thin, with light blonde hair, wearing a checked shirt that may have been orange or brown.