Prestwich residents will be forced to pay an insurance bill in the thousands after mindless and reckless vandalism to their cars over the weekend.
Two men were seen inflicting damage to more than 30 vehicles after police were first alerted to the vandals jumping on a car in Lowther Road at about 6.30am on Saturday July 5.
A further 30 further reports of criminal damages to cars on Scott Road, Prestwich Park Road, Masefield Avenue, Shelley Road and St Anns Road have been received.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and possession of an offensive weapon.
Detective Sergeant Benjamin Cottam said: “What we are dealing with is mindless, wanton vandalism on a very large scale.
“It is not just the financial hassle of paying for repairs that has upset the victims but the time it will take to rearrange work and home commitments to arrange for those repairs and sort out the mess caused by two wanton vandals.”
The culprits were also spotted jumping on car bonnets and knocking off wing mirrors, to leave an estimated bill of thousands of pounds.
Detective Sergeant Cottam reassured residents that police are working diligently to ensure the safety of the public and to catch those involved. The arrested male remains in custody for questioning.
“We have dedicated significant resources to catching those responsible. These individuals have caused a lot of upheaval and upset in this community and we will do everything we can to identify those involved,” he added.
An appeal was also made to the public encouraging those with information to share.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact police on 101 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Main image courtesy of Dale Lane, with thanks.
