RESIDENTS of an estate in Tavistock have been the target of vandalism during the past two years. Vandals have struck Meadowbrook twice in 16 months, throwing large stones at people, children, car windows and homes. The most recent offence occurred on Tuesday of last week when a stone smashed the rear window of a new car. Owner Douglas Cruze, who works for Tavistock Council and Tavistock Fire Station, said: ?I am pretty angry ? I use my car as a response vehicle which I can?t do at the moment. I missed one shout to attend a fire as I was trying to sort out the vandals on the viaduct.? The vandals have thrown stones from the picnic area along the viaduct cycle path. Mr Cruze said he had goiven the names of the vandals to police but was told nothing could be done without proof of the offences. Mr Cruze added: ?They throw stones through cars windows and conservatories, they have written off a car, and even threw a stone which nearly hit my girlfriend and child. ?The rocks are four times heavier when they are being launched from that height.? In one incident in April 2005 a thrown boulder landed in front of a woman and her child. Because of the velocity and height, it bounced onto a neighbour?s car. Police were at the crime scene last Wednesday to look at ways to stop the vandalism from re-occurring. WPC Angie Frost said: ?We have taken an item from the scene for forensic evidence. It looks like carrier bags are being used as sling shots, and little stones are being put into drink cans and thrown. ?It is very dangerous what they are doing ?the stones they are throwing are seven inches wide. We are treating it seriously and we sympathise with the residents. ?They have good cause for concern but having the names of suspects is not evidence, we cannot go up to them and arrest them, we need proof. ?We are patrolling the area but we cannot patrol it 24 hours a day.? Anyone with any information on the incidents is asked to contact PC Graham Callender at Tavistock Police Station or call 087052 777444.
