Residents speak of shock as quiet Staffordshire village is targeted by tyre slashers

Police say a total of 17 vehicles were targeted in Penkridge.

The acts of vandalism took place over five streets in the village in close proximity to each other. These were Fullmore Close, Micklewood Close, Boscomoor Close, Brook Close and Newlands Close.

The incidents led to innocent residents having to fork out hundreds of pounds to replace their tyres with one innocent victim paying more than £600.

Staffordshire Police are investigating the incidents, which happened between 3am and 4am on Thursday, April 2, and are urging witnesses to come forward with any information.

One of several residents targeted was Barry Walters, who has lived in the village for more than 30 years. He had to pay £95 to recover one of his tyres on his 4x4 car.

Mr Walters told the Express & Star: "I went outside and found a note on the windscreen which said one of my tyres had been slashed. As you can imagine I wasn't very happy at the time.

"Then the police came and they were talking to residents around the area. It's usually a quiet area around here so its been a bit of shock.

"It was funny because I remember one of my dogs started barking around 3am which was unusual. It's very rare for him to bark at that time."

John Williams, 74, from Brook Close also spoke of his dismay after his caravan was targeted. He was forced to pay £55 to get the tyre fixed.

"It was a completely random and malicious attack," he said.

"I would say there were about 35 vehicles targeted because there were some who didn't go to the police.

"It's concerning because you don't feel safe when you go the bed.

"If they catch them then they will just give them an ASBO and that's that. There's nothing you can do."

Trevor Bailey, who manages Penkridge Tyre and Exhaust Services on Boscomoor Lane, said: "We had to work on 26 tyres on that Thursday morning, it was a very busy time.

"One gentleman had to pay more than £600 because he had four tyres slashed on his van and four more on his BMW.

"We don't like to make money on somebody else's misery, it's just mindless vandalism."

Residents have also expressed their concerns on social media with a Facebook Group titled 'Penkridge Matters' attracting many comments.

Facebook user Lauren Johnson said: "Makes me sick how people have the nerve to do something like this! What goes through people's minds to be as evil as they are. What comes around goes around whoever is leading this pathetic game."

Emma Felton added: "There is no motive for this apart from idiocy."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious or knows of any information should call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting incident number 422 of April 2.