A family who believed its home was mistakenly targeted by a gang looking for a drug dealer has revealed its shock and terror after the windows and door were smashed in. Zoe McCormack, her partner and three children were all asleep when Zoe woke up to the sound of banging and shouting just after 3am.
The attack on the Stockton-on-Tees home left the front door of the Wren Street home in Oxbridge torn from its hinges and its windows smashed. After Zoe alerted her partner Sam Goulding on Tuesday (August 30) morning, he went to look out of their bedroom window.
Outside he reported that he saw a group of men and two cars outside the property. He said one of the men was holding a spade which he allegedly pointed at the couple from the street below, reports TeessideLive.
When Sam made his way downstairs to confront the men wearing nothing but his underwear, he could hear someone shouting 'where's my f***ing drugs'. The couple have been left 'shaken' following the incident which woke two of their three children and has 'terrified' Zoe's 13-year-old daughter, who has autism.
The 31-year-old said: "I called the police straight away and they still haven’t been out yet, they just said someone will be in touch. I feel a bit let down to be fair. I’ve got three children, eight youths smashed my house up and no one has been out."
The mum believes her home was targeted in error and it was a case of 'mistaken identity' that saw her house, along with two others on the street, attacked. She said she thinks the incident may be connected to a drug dealer who formerly lived in a nearby property.
Despite living on the street for the last three years, Zoe no longer feels safe and is disappointed that the police have yet to visit the house or the family. She has also had to cancel an operation she was due to have today as a result of the alleged incident.
She explained: " I’m just scared. I actually don’t even want to live here anymore.
"I’m literally terrified. I even said to my partner I’m going to be terrified to go to sleep tonight."
Zoe is frightened for the safety of herself and her children, the youngest of whom - Ava Rose - is just five-months-old and was disturbed by the incident. As well as her house, two neighbouring properties have also had their windows smashed.
Teesside Live contacted Cleveland Police for comment after the mother-of-three said she felt let down by their response, and a spokesperson said: "We understand this must have been a very frightening experience for the resident and can reassure them that police will not tolerate such behaviour in our neighbourhoods; we will do all we can to identify and deal with those responsible.
"The offenders had left the area before the caller reported the incident to police and as such there was not deemed to be any specific or immediate threat or risk to the reporting person.
"The details of the vehicle were also immediately circulated on police systems, and the caller was given advice on securing their property. Some CCTV has already been viewed earlier this morning, and enquiries are underway."
Anyone with information, or CCTV or dash cam footage which could help the investigation is being asked to contact Cleveland Police on the 101 number, quoting ref 154666.
