Yobs described as “absolute terrors” have been blamed for a spate of tyre slashings that left five cars and vans in the same car park out of action.
Drivers on Centurion Road in Castlefields, Runcorn, awoke on Tuesday to find the damage to their vehicles, meaning some couldn’t get to work. Heather O’Neill, whose car was among those targeted, said all of the ruptured tyres were “stabbed” around four or five times.
Heather, 43, and neighbour Lisa Shannon, 45, said they believe the incident was the latest in a wave of antisocial behaviour (ASB) degrading quality of life in the area. Lisa branded the perpetrators “hooligans”.
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They said other problems have included bottles being smashed on walls, wing mirrors being kicked off vehicles, a fire by a house, stones being thrown at people, and racist abuse. Heather said children have also been “running round with wallpaper scrapers to try to stab other kids”.
In another incident, she walked past a boy who politely said “hiya” but threw a stone at “the back of my head” once she passed. A neighbour who “chased” the youths away suffered racist abuse.
In one incident, Heather believes a young girl tried to steal her phone by asking to use it to phone an ambulance, before a boy walked past and told her to “ignore her”. Heather and Lisa said dog attacks and dogs off the lead, dumped broken flagstones, unemptied bins full of dog poo, and “motorbikes racing round” were also problems in the area.
Asked about the tyres-slashing, she told the ECHO: “It’s the latest in a long line of them doing stuff: bottles smashing against the houses, we had a fire down the side of the house - I didn’t know about it until the next day. There’s a gang of kids who are horrors.”
She added: “It’s getting ridiculous. We phone the police all the time round here.” Heather branded the youths “absolute terrors”.
Mum-of-three Lisa, said a relative had to take a taxi to a hospital appointment after her husband’s tyres were slashed meaning he couldn’t give her a lift. She said: “It’s a nightmare. If you call one out, what are you going to do? They’re a kid.”
Chief Inspector Andy Blizard, head of Runcorn Local Policing Unit said: “Over recent months we have become aware of increased reports of antisocial behaviour involving a small group of youths in the Castlefields and Trident retail park areas of Runcorn.
“This type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and we are working closely with residents and businesses to address the issue. As part of our ongoing efforts, patrols have been stepped up in the affected areas and a number of dispersal orders have been put in place over recent months.
“We are also looking to have the Stryker camera (mobile CCTV) installed in the area to help deter further incidents. I would ask anyone with any CCTV or dashcam footage which may aid our investigation into the spate of incident to please get in touch.
“Anyone who has any concerns or has witnessed antisocial behaviour in their area, please contact us online at cheshire.police.uk or on 101 and we will do the rest.”
A Cheshire Police spokesman said: “At 7.10am on Tuesday, April 5, police received reports that a number of tyres had been slashed on vehicles parked on a communal car park on Centurion Row, Runcorn.
“The caller reported that tyres had been damaged on five vehicles. The incident is reported to have taken place some time between 5pm on Monday, April 4 and 7am on Tuesday, April 5.
“Enquiries in relation to the incident are in the early stages and anyone with any information or video footage which may aid the investigation is asked to call Cheshire Police at cheshire.police.uk , or call 101, quoting IML 1238421.”
