Family’s plea to vandals who have targeted cars (From This Is Wiltshire)

A COUPLE have pleaded with vandals who have repeatedly damaged their cars over the last year to stop as neighbourhood police begin to investigate.

Lesley and Alan Gardner, of Church Walk, Ashton Keynes, have lived at their home since inheriting it from a relative almost two years ago.

But quiet village life has been ruined by someone bent on vandalising their vehicles when they are parked on public land near to their home, Co-op worker Lesley said.

Most recently their Saab 93 was keyed during the day on Monday, while their Honda Jazz was scratched and gouged overnight from June 28-29, which Lesley said will cost the couple more than £1,500 to repair.

“I’m so fed up with it,” the 52-year-old said.

“It’s not an isolated incident, it’s been happening for about a year and the thing is it just seems we are being targeted.

“We have had three cars since we’ve been here and they’ve all been vandalised.

“We had to pay £700 for the Rover, which we no longer have any more, and then the Jazz got keyed.

“Then on Monday my husband went out and when he came back the Saab had scratches on it – they must have done it in broad daylight.

“We have a neighbour who said we are not allowed to park there but I called the police out after the incident last week and they said it was a public highway and it was fine.

“We just want to know who is doing it and for it to stop. I don’t understand why anyone would want to do this to us, it’s not like we have wild parties and make loads of noise.

“The police suggested getting surveillance cameras, but am I going to have to live in Fort Knox before I can park my car? I wish we could move but we cannot afford to as we inherited the house.”

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “Between 28th and 29th June we were informed of damage to a Honda Jazz car in Church Walk, Ashton Keynes. On July 9 we had a report of damage to a Saab also in Church Walk, Ashton Keynes.

“We are making enquiries and if anybody has any information or saw anybody acting suspiciously in the area please call Wiltshire Police on 101.”