Brake cut vans turned into "lethal weapons"

The "mindless idiots" hit a fleet of white Sprinter vans parked on land behind Rossetts Commercials Mercedes-Benz at Meadow Road industrial estate, East Worthing, between May 19 and 21.

A worker at the garage made the shocking discovery last Wednesday when he attempted to drive one of the vans to a customer.

He had to do an emergency stop using the handbrake when the van rolled down a slope and failed to respond when he pushed his foot down on the brake pedal.

Manager Peter Whiteside, 60, said: "A vehicle with no brakes is a lethal weapon.

"The driver got in the van, released the handbrake, put his foot on the brake, but it went straight to the floor.

"Fortunately, the one that our employee collected was only partially damaged, with 50 per cent brakes, but on some of the others they have cut the front and back, which makes the vehicle completely useless.

"If he had not been on a slope, he wouldn't have even tried to use the brake and accelerated towards the gate. There could have been a serious accident."

Brakes on 10 vans of the same type were tampered with in Albion Street and Butts Road, Southwick, on May 23.

The damage has cost Rossetts more than 3,000.

Mr Whiteside added: "At first, we thought it must be a disgruntled employee but then we found out these other people have had it done to them and they have nothing to do with us.

"We would like to find out who is doing this because it is a time-bomb waiting to explode. It is not the cost of repair, it's the danger to innocent by-standers.

"I can't comprehend how someone has the stupidity to do this. But someone must know who it is."