'Mindless vandals' target Bexhill houses with rocks from beach

Two residents said there have been several incidents over the last few weeks, leaving extensive damage to their properties.

One woman said her house in De La Warr Road was struck at around 1.30am on Saturday, June 25.

She said: “We had family staying over that night. My husband was with his uncle in the kitchen when we heard this big crash. He went to get the front door keys and went straight outside.

"He didn’t see anyone but when he turned back to face the house he saw that four of our front windows had been smashed and the rear window of his car was smashed.

"He called the police straight away and they came very quickly to take a statement.

"When the police officer came over, she told us that a property in St Leonards had been targeted.

"A house in Gloucester Avenue was also hit on the Saturday night going on into the Sunday morning. A few days later another house was struck in the same street.

"They [the vandals] have been going on to the beach and throwing the rocks through the windows.

"We have small children and a big beach rock being launched through a window could have killed a child. They don’t think of the consequences of their actions. It’s just mindless vandalism.

"One of the houses in Gloucester Avenue that was struck is occupied by a very elderly couple.

"We are all quite fearful that the vandals could come back. One person I know is absolutely petrified.”

Another resident, who contacted the Bexhill Observer, said the culprits have been ‘causing havoc for a while’, targeting cars and windows of houses in the area.

She said: “On the Saturday morning (June 25) at 2.25am I was woken by an almighty crashing sound. These two males had thrown two large beach rocks through two of my front room windows and then ran off.”

A Sussex Police spokesperson said: “Police responded to a report of criminal damage to an address in De La Warr Road, Bexhill at about 1.50am on June 25.There have been similar reports of criminal damage in the area, and officers from our Neighbourhood Policing Teams have increased patrols.“Two arrests have been made as part of the ongoing investigation. Witnesses and anyone with relevant information such as CCTV footage or details of a vehicle registration are asked to report it to us.“Information can be reported to Sussex Police online or call 101, and quote Operation Rock.”

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