THOUSANDS of pounds of damage and disruption to rubbish collection services was caused following a wrecking spree carried out on vehicles parked overnight in Oaklands Drive, Okehampton. Police arrested an Okehampton man after seven vehicles, including dustcarts and roadsweepers belonging to waste collection operators Focsa, plus vans run by the borough council and local firm Drainology had their windscreens stoved in. The damage occurred shortly after 10.30pm on Tuesday week in the compound where Focsa and other local businesses leave their vehicles overnight. It is estimated that the broken glass and other damage will cost between £10,000 and £15,000 to replace. With its fleet of vehicles out of action, Focsa had to launch an overnight operation to make arrangements to minimise disruption to its rubbish collection service on Wednesday morning. Kev Roberts from Focsa said: 'All this damage is a bit of a nightmare. I had a call at 4am this morning and with my colleague we had to start organising getting other vehicles for the collection.' Focsa called in vehicles from the Tavistock depot as well as hiring another three carts to ensure that all the regular rubbish collections were met. The offender also let the hand-brake off on one vehicle, and as it was on an incline, it rolled back and collided with another parked nearby, causing further damage. Drainology director Dave West said it was 'extremely frustrating and annoying' when somebody perpetrated such mindless vandalism. Mr West said this was not the first time vandals had damaged vehicles overnight — a Drainology vehicle had previously been attacked in May. There had also been incidents where diesel had been taken overnight from the Focsa vehicles. Police said they received a call from a member of the public witnessing the damage at 10.40pm and had arrested a man near to the scene by 10.51pm. A man from the town centre area of Okehampton has been bailed while further inquiries are conducted, to return on January 19.
