Police hunt vandals after Shrewsbury tyre slashings

West Mercia Police today appealed for witnesses as part of the hunt for the people responsible for damaging the vehicles in several Shrewsbury streets.

The attack took place late on the evening of Saturday, March 21, and into the early hours of Sunday, March 22, but was only revealed today.

The vehicles were targeted in Burton Street, Queen Street, and North Street, in the Castlefields area. Police say they estimate that the damage will cost car owners hundreds of pounds.

One local resident, Anthony Humphreys, said the attack was "wanton vandalism".

He said: "I was going for a paper in the morning and spotted a couple of vehicles with flat tyres. One of them belonged to a friend of mine so after I got the paper I went and told him. We thought it had just been let down but he pressed the tyre and you could tell it had been slashed.

"He went to have a look in North Street and he reckoned there were about 12 or 13 that had been slashed. We have had a few mirrors broken off cars but haven't had anything like this down here for a while. It is just wanton vandalism and I hope whoever did this, it happens to them so they know what it feels like."

Alan Mosley, who represents the Castlefields ward on Shrewsbury Town Council said he hoped anyone with information about the incident would contact police.

He said: "It is a despicable act. Unfortunately these idiotic acts occur occasionally all around town and it is a great shame someone chose to target this area. I hope all neighbours will be vigilant and report any suspicious circumstances when they occur."

One resident, who did not wish to be named, said those responsible would have had to have purposely targeted the area.

He said: "It used to happen regularly down here. People would bend the mirrors back or bend the aerials on cars. The way this has happened though they would have had to make a special journey, it is not just like someone coming back from town – they would have had to make an effort to do it."

PC Scott Harrower of Shrewsbury Police Station urged witnesses to get in touch.

He said: "We are investigating a large numbers of criminal damage to car tyres in the Burton Street, Queen Street and North Street areas of Shrewsbury and are appealing to local residents for information.

"The tyres were deliberately punctured causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage."

Anyone with information about the damage can contact West Mercia Police on 101, quoting incident reference 0216S 220315.

Alternatively information can also be given anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.