Yobs go on smashing spree

UCKFIELD traders were this week counting the cost of a wrecking spree carried out by mindless yobs in the town.

A trail of destruction was left from Bell Walk to Manor Park at the weekend as shop windows were smashed and doors kicked in by groups of vandals.

Residents in Buxted also suffered as louts attacked parked cars by jumping on bonnets and snapping off wing mirrors.

Ironically, the vandalism spree occurred on the same weekend as the first increased weekend police patrols took place in the town to tackle anti-social behaviour and disorder.

A whole door panel was kicked out and three windows were smashed at Bell Walk hairdressers Partners 4 Hair, on Saturday night, while at the nearby Furniture Centre two glass door panels were shattered after being kicked in. Criminal damage was also done to a glass door panel at Caxtons estate agents, which is situated next to Partners 4 Hair.

Similar damage was done to properties at a parade of shops on the Manor Park estate. At just after midnight on Saturday, a window was kicked in at the fish and chip shop in Brown's Lane, while a brick was put through the window of neighbouring laundrette Dhobi World.

Wing mirrors

The spate of vandalism had carried over from the previous evening when a glass door panel at the Citizens Advice Bureau was put in and an eight foot by three foot window at Crannage's, on the High Street, was smashed.

Meanwhile, in Buxted, youths caused damage to a number of parked cars on Gordon Road by snapping off wing mirrors and jumping on bonnets. Police arrived minutes after the damage had been reported to find footprints and dents on cars in the area.

Traders this week spoke out about the damage. Claire Davies, co-owner of Partners 4 Hair, said. 'It makes me mad. People say these youngsters have nothing to do. Well they should get a life.'

The owner of Dhobi World, Jim Grove, was ironically featured in the Sussex Express last week after he offered a 500 reward to help catch those responsible for a previous attack on his laundrette. He said: 'What has happened recently in Uckfield is that gangs have formed and one gang tries to outdo the other. If one gang smashes four windows, the other gang tries to do five.'

Despite the weekend's vandalism, police in Uckfield were confident that their move to increase manpower on Friday and Saturday evenings would help in the fight against disorder in the town.

Sector Inspector Rob McPhilemy said: 'There will be an increased police presence in the town centre at weekends. We will be bringing in increased patrols on Friday and Saturday nights in an attempt to intercept this kind of trouble. However, we will be looking for help from the general public. We would ask for anyone who sees any damage to call us. We need to work together with the public to curb this damage.'

The first of these extra weekend patrols took place on Friday. There was no extra patrol on Saturday. However, from tonight (Friday), it is intended that increased patrols will take place over both evenings.

A youth has been arrested in connection with the damage to the laundrette. Anybody with information regarding this, or any of the above incidents, should contact Uckfield Police on 0845 6070999.