Three vehicles have been torched in Calderbank in the latest troubling incident that has residents worrying about a “crime wave” in the Lanarkshire village.
Police were called out to Newbattle Avenue just before midnight last night, with firefighters dousing the three-vehicle blaze.
A witness who called the emergency services said: "We just heard a bang and there was a flash so we ran out and seen them on fire.
Speaking about recovered CCTV footage from the area, the shocked resident added: "There was a tiny cut of someone running away just wearing all black.
"But we didn't see a face or much of anything because the camera faces down the street."
The vehicles sustained considerable damage and locals are worried the incident “could be drug or gang-related”.
One concerned villager, who asked to remain anonymous, contacted Lanarkshire Live and claimed: “Recently there has a been a crime wave in the area. Groups of youths have been attacking people, threatening members of the public and fighting each other.
“There was also a car chase that involved four police cars, and now we have these three vehicles being torched.
“This cannot continue, or be tolerated; it’s time the police and council did more to stop these crimes and protect the people of the village.”
The latest destructive behaviour comes just a few months after windows on the 211 bus through the village were smashed three times in little over a month, which led to operator Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) temporarily suspending the route and diverting it away from the Main Street.
As a result, a 360-degree camera was placed at the junction of Crowwood Road and Main Street in late January, for an initial eight-week period, to “cover most of the hotspots where there have been complaints”.
Airdrie South councillor Michael Coyle was one of the campaigners behind the CCTV’s introduction, and he is dismayed to hear about the most recent incident.
Councillor Coyle told Lanarkshire Live : “In relation to the vehicles being torched, I’ve spoken to residents who are really worried it could be drug or gang-related.
“After the carry on with the buses’ windows being broken, we got CCTV installed at the top of Crowwood Road but more needs to be done.
“I’ve been informed by residents that up to 30 or 40 youths have been gathering on the Main Street and it’s making them very uneasy.
“I don’t understand why there has been an upsurge in this anti-social behaviour; it seems to be a generational thing where it spikes every few years.
“I’m in contact with the police and have urged them to take more action by increasing patrols and monitoring CCTV.”
Relating to the vehicle fires incident, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were called around 11.45pm on Monday, March 14, to a report of three vehicles on fire in the Newbattle Avenue area of Calderbank,
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances.”
Stephen Llewellyn, head of housing solutions with North Lanarkshire Council, added: “Anti-social behaviour which makes the lives of others miserable is not acceptable and we will not tolerate it within our communities.
“Working closely with our partners at Police Scotland, we will pursue action against anyone involved in unacceptable behaviour.
“We will use all the powers at our disposal to gather and share intelligence to disrupt and detect those involved.”
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