Reward after window are smashed

A REWARD of 500 is being offered for information leading to the conviction of people who smashed the windows of an Uckfield launderette at the weekend.

The owner of Dhobi World within the parade of shops on the Manor Park estate said the windows were smashed deliberately and 'vindictively' and he wanted to find the people responsible quickly.

Mr Jim Grove, who lives in nearby Manor Close, said he had been having problems with youngsters congregating in the launderette since January. 'They come in, sit down, throw rubbish on the floor, spit on the floor, smoke, climb on the machines, put rubbish in the dryers. They are an absolute menace.

'I've been talking to them and asking them to leave and I believe these windows were smashed by older brothers trying to get back at me.

'But they are not getting back at me. They are getting back at the community, the people who use the launderette, and I am asking for their help in finding who caused the damage.'

A police spokesman said CCTV cameras on the premises captured a rock being thrown through a ten foot by eight foot plate glass window at the launderette at 12.23 in the early hours of Saturday. Then at 10.20pm that day two further rocks were thrown through the shop's other plate glass window and the glass door to the premises.

More than 1,500 damage was caused and Uckfield police are asking for information from anybody who saw two white youths aged between 14 and 18 in the vicinity. One was wearing a light coloured pair of trousers and a light coloured top with a black band around the chest and a baseball cap.