£40k damage to cars in acid attack

Acid or paint stripper was thrown onto cars parked in a Black Country street, causing damage estimated at £40,000.

About 11 cars were attacked according to people living in Chawn Hill Close, Pedmore, Stourbridge.

Police said they are investigating the criminal damage and say they have some lines of inquiry. One resident had just bought a new black Peugeot 207 and now faces a £5,000 repair bill, they say. The woman, a nurse at Dudley's Russells Hall Hospital, found damage on her way to work.

Her partner, who would not be named, said of yesterday's incident: "Everyone is distraught and in uproar. It looks as though acid was thrown on about 11 cars in the close and I would estimate there has been about £40,000 worth of damage.

"My partner only bought her car two weeks ago and it was her pride and joy and now it has been wrecked."

Inspector Richard Thomas said officers did house-to-house inquiries.

He said: "We have received reports of eight cars having some sort of corrosive liquid poured on them and we are looking at other cases. Officers do have some lines of inquiry."

He said there had also been a recent report of paint being thrown on a car.

Residents, many elderly, say they have suffered anti-social behaviour over 18 months with garages being broken into, yobs starting fires and drug taking.

Police are aware of problems with youths drinking and the neighbourhood policing team patrols.

Meanwhile, graffiti was sprayed over trailers in a secure car park at Smethwick Drop Forge, Stourport Road, Kidderminster, between 5pm on June 27 and 2.45pm on June 29.

The straps of the curtain sides were also cut causing a total of £3,000 damage.

Pc Lee Halford said: "The Stourport Road would have been busy over the weekend and so it is quite possible that someone might have seen the offenders in the area. We'd appeal to anyone who noticed any suspicious activity to pass this on to police as soon as they can."

Anyone with information should call Pc Halford on 0300 333 3000.