Public appeal following latest tyre damage

Police ask public to remain eagle eyed following latest spate of tyre damage in Nuneaton

More than 60 vehicles have had their tyres damaged in Nuneaton overnight (Tuesday into Wednesday 6 April). Police officers on regular patrol discovered a number of tyres with damaged tyres in the Horeston Grange area of the town at around 5.30am.

As the morning progressed more residents began reporting damage to their vehicles in an area stretching from Horeston Grange into the town centre.

Among the roads affected this time are vehicles on Clovelly Way, Tiverton Close, Falmouth Close, Wadebriedge Drive, Launceston Drive, Lamorna Close, Lynmouth Close, St Austell Close, St Nicolas Road, Oaston Road, Glebe Road and King Edward Road.

In almost all cases the cars have suffered damage to more than one tyre, with an implement being used to puncture the tyres. Several people have reported that more than one car in the household has been targeted, with the offenders damaging vehicles parked on private driveways.

This is the latest series of incidents in which large numbers of tyres have been damaged overnight in Nuneaton. Previous attacks have taken place in Stockingford, Weddington and on the Manor Beat. A total of 41 cars in Bedworth have also had their tyres damaged in attacks between May last year and February this year.

Police investigating this latest spate of tyre damage are keeping an open mind over whether the damage is the work of the same offenders, or whether copycat damage is now taking place.

However police remain resolute in tracing the people responsible for causing hundreds of pounds worth of damage and massive disruption and inconvenience to the lives of everyone affected.

They are appealing to members of the public whose work takes them out into Nuneaton early in the morning, such as milkmen, delivery drivers, postal workers, taxi drivers and anyone else who travels around the town in the early hours to be particularly alert to suspcious activity and to report anything unsuual to the police.

As a result the police in Nuneaton have been undertaking a number of specific enquiries and actions including:

Every vehicle that has tyre damage has been forensically examined, house to house enquiries have been conducted and public and private CCTV has been viewed.

A range of covert equipment have been installed and covert observations and patrols have been taking place overnight for several months in targeted areas in addition to regular uniform patrols. Since these patrols have commenced the areas covered have not suffered further incidents of damage.

A dedicated team of detectives has been allocated to the enquiry, following up every lead in the ongoing investigation.

Officers working on the case have consulted the National Crime Faculty at Bramshill and have liased with colleagues in other parts of the country who have suffered similar series of criminal damage to ensure that they have not missed any lines of enquiry or methods available to trace the people responsible.

Information has been and is continually sought from members of the public and will continue to be acted upon where appropriate.

As a direct result of these actions:

A 33 year old Nuneaton man was arrested following the recent series of incidents in Stockingford over the Easter Weekend, he remains on police bail while enquiries continue.

Two male youths aged 13 years and 15 years were arrested for offences committed in January. They were charged with causing criminal damage and were convicted when they appeared before the court.

A further five people have been identified as suspects based on information provided by members of the community. Despite enquiries and interviews they have been released without charge due to insufficient evidence.

Chief Inspector Neil Hewison, District Commander for Nuneaton said, "The motive for these attacks, which started in May last year, remains unclear. The person or people responsible for these crimes know they are causing a huge amount of misery, inconvenience and expense to the people of Nuneaton and Bedworth and when they are caught they will face serious charges and punishment.

"We have invested considerable resources and finances as part of our ongoing commitment to solving these offences, however we need the continued support of the public to provide us with information to help trace the people responsible and we ask anyone who has information to contact us.

"It is highly likely that the person or people responsible for causing the damage has bragged about their actions to friends or relatives. We want to hear from you if you have any suspicions. A reward of up to £1000 has been put forward by Crimestoppers for information leading to the arrest and charge of the person or people responsible and the information can be given anonymously by contacting the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111."

"This is not a victimless crime, among those affected in the series of damage over the Easter weekend in Stockingford were a family who could not visit their daughter in hospital because they could not drive their car, and a family who had to delay the start of their holiday because the tyres on their car had been damaged. Every person who has their car tyres damaged is inconvenienced in some way."

Inspector Hewison stressed "Until the offenders are caught we will continue to pursue all lines of enquiry with vigour."