Police step up patrols after vandalism spree in Lincoln neighbourhood

Lincolnshire Police have issued a warning to vandals who have deliberately wrecked several cars on neighbouring streets in Lincoln.

Around a dozen vehicles have been vandalised in the Bracebridge area over the last two weeks, particularly around the newly named Bud Robinson Community Centre.

In the majority of cases a rock or a brick has been used to smash the car windows.

The vandals have on occasion stolen items from the cars but in most cases have simply damaged the cars.

These incidents have occurred under cover of darkness throughout the week.

The vandalism culminated on Saturday, December 12, when three offenders, described as ‘youths’, were seen damaging a red Vauxhall Astra at around 6pm on Laurel Close.

A rock was thrown through the car’s window and the vandals then ran off behind the flats at the bottom of the road.

Two of them were wearing dark hoodies and one was wearing a grey hoody with a yellow stripe down the hood.

Family of Bud Robinson and councillors at the official ceremony to mark the renaming of the community centre in Bracebridge. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

A spokesperson for the force said: “We would like to take this opportunity to remind offenders of the serious nature of their behaviour.

“If caught and prosecuted, offences of criminal damage are not looked kindly upon by the courts and can result in hefty fines and even prison sentences.

“If you are doing this as part of a misguided idea of fun then please remember not only that but the inconvenience and annoyance you are causing to victims.

“Throughout the week a number of extra officers will be on patrol in Bracebridge Heath in a bid to tackle this issue. If you would like any information or advice please do not hesitate to talk to them. If you have been a victim of this type of offence please let the officers know or call us on 101.

“We are also appealing for witnesses and information in relation to this series.

“If you have any information about any of the incidents listed below, or have any detail such as descriptions of people or direction of travel, please call us on the non-emergency number 101 quoting any of the incident numbers below.”

• Monday, November 30: Poplar Street. Silver Peugeot 207 window smashed overnight between 10.30pm and 7.30am. Damage only, nothing stolen. (Incident 38)
• Monday, November 30: Maple Street. Overnight a window was smashed on a silver Vauxhall Corsa and a book stolen from within. (Incident 41)
• Wednesday, December 9: Bracebridge Community Centre. Grey Mitsubishi saloon car’s window is smashed overnight between 5.30pm and 8.30am. Damage only, nothing stolen. (Incident 119)
• Wednesday, December 9: Holly Street. An insecure white Ford Focus is entered and bank cards and a birth certificate are stolen from inside. Believed to have occurred sometime overnight between 7pm and 8am. (Incident 194)
• Wednesday, December 9: Holly Street. Sometime between 7pm on Monday December 7 and 6.30pm on Wednesday, December 9 the window of a silver Vauxhall Zafira is smashed. Nothing stolen. (Incident 406)
• Thursday, December 10: Bracebridge Community Centre. A blue Volkswagen Passat and a black Renault Clio have their windows smashed between 5.30pm on Wednesday December 9 and 8am Thursday December 10. Nothing taken from within.
• Friday, December 11: Holly Street. A red Vauxhall Zafira is entered and a sat nav and taxi radio stolen. Believed to have happened between 4.30pm and 6.30pm. (Incident 369)
• Saturday, December 12: Connaught Terrace (Victoria Street). The window of a silver Ford Galaxy is smashed overnight between 7pm and 4am. Nothing stolen. (Incident 67)
• Saturday, December 12: Victoria Street. Red Hyundai i20’s window smashed sometime overnight from 4pm to 8.30am and a sat nav taken from inside. (Incident 99)
• Saturday, December 12: Laurel Close. At around 6pm the window of a red Vauxhall Astra is smashed. Three individuals are seen, two wearing dark hooded tops and one wearing a grey hooded top with a yellow stripe on the hood. Nothing stolen. (Incident 297)
• Saturday, December 12: Bracebridge Community Centre. The window of a green Renault saloon is smashed, no time frame known. Damage only, nothing taken.