VANDALS have been attacking cars in Eaton Socon over a seven-month period, causing thousands of pounds’ worth of damage. Since January this year, 20 vehicles have been vandalised.

VANDALS have been attacking cars in Eaton Socon over a seven-month period, causing thousands of pounds’ worth of damage.

Since January this year, 20 vehicles have been vandalised.

The cars have all been left in School Lane, Ackerman Street and Ackerman Gardens, and so far the damage has amounted to about �8,000.

Cambridgeshire police has said the only pattern to emerge from the incidents was that, in most cases, all four tyres of the damaged vehicles had been slashed – probably with a knife or a screwdriver.

One of the latest victims, 29-year-old Bryony Black of Dovecote Lane, Great Paxton, had been out for the night at the Rivermill Tavern pub in Eaton Socon on Friday, July 22.

She left her Kia Rio overnight in School Lane, almost next to the pub, and got a shock when she arrived the next day to pick it up.

“I decided to get a taxi home that night, and when I returned the next day to collect the car I noticed that three of the tyres had been slashed,” she told The Hunts Post. “Luckily I managed to drive home, but then I realised the fourth one had been done, too.”

Ms Black was left with a bill of �200 to replace the tyres.

Jon Neal, 35, who lives on Ackerman Street, has had his car attacked twice when all four tyres on his Mini were slashed.

“If I ever saw who did it I’d ask them if they realised the consequences of what they were doing,” he said. “I have a very young step daughter, and if, God forbid, there was ever an emergency where we had to use the car and someone had sabotaged the tyres, the consequences could be very dangerous.

“Another issue is that, if this continues, the insurance premiums on our street will go up.”

Police have searched CCTV footage from the Rivermill Tavern’s security system. The pub itself was the target of arsonists earlier this year when the smoking shelter was set alight, prompting owners Janet and Trevor Partt to get the camera installed.

St Neots Section Inspector Mark Greenhalgh said: “I urge local residents to be extra vigilant and, if they see anyone acting suspiciously around vehicles, to contact police.”

INFORMATION: Anyone with any information should contact police on 0345 456 4564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.