Horsham car vandalism victims tell of ‘pointless’ act

Vehicles had aerials or car badges stolen or damaged between Saturday night November 16 and Monday morning November 18.

Roads affected include Swindon Road, Trafalgar Road, Kempshott Road, Merryfield Drive, Hamilton Road and Greenway.

Christine Anderson had her car aerial stolen from outside her home in Greenway.

Christine, 65, said: “It is mindless and pointless.

“Horsham is normally quite a safe place to be. I have lived here since 1994 and I have never had any trouble whatsoever.”

When Christine went to Halfords to buy a replacement aerial she was told that several other people had been to the store to do the same on that day alone.

She said: “I bought a new aerial but I am keeping it in the car, and it is a pain to keep unscrewing it and screwing it back on.

“Other Horsham residents need to be aware in case it is something that is going to happen more.”

Christine’s neighbour Cliff Comber, 63, also had the aerial stolen from his car.

He realised his was missing when his wife told him about the spate of vandalism.

He said: “It’s weird. I looked down the street and noticed no one had aerials on their cars, so it must have been a serial thing.

“Hopefully this doesn’t start something off and all the kids start doing it.”

PCSO Emma Walsh said: “We are hoping someone might have caught suspicious activity or even the offenders committing the crime on their cameras and are appealing for those people to come forward. ”

A Sussex Police spokesperson said a 20-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy have been arrested for theft, and bailed until January 13.