A reward of up to ?1,000 is being offered by the Isle of Man charity Crimestoppers to help the identification and pursuit of the perpetrators of recent vandalism attacks on motor vehicles in Castletown. In the early hours of November 29 a total of 38 parked vehicles were damaged which largely involved wing mirrors and wiper blades being torn off, while three vehicles also had tyres punctured. The cost of the damage is likely to run in to the tens of thousands of pounds. The trail of vandalism stretched from the Janets Corner area, down Bowling Green Road, via Pickard Close, Smetana Close towards Athol Terrace and across the pedestrian bridge over the Silverburn River. The route of the damage also includes vehicles parked in Paradise Lane, Northcroft Apartments, Malew Street and The Crofts. Witnesses reported seeing three males in their teens or early twenties causing damage to one vehicle in The Crofts at around 3am. They were described as slim or athletic in build and wearing dark clothing with hoods over their heads.
Anyone who provides information to Crimestoppers which leads to someone being arrested and charged with the offences will be eligible for the financial reward. The independent Isle of Man charity Crimestoppers provides a way for all members of the community to pass on information about crime anonymously by ringing the Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555111. All calls are handled by the UK Crimestoppers’ Call Centre, so Isle of Man callers can therefore be assured of their complete anonymity. Information can also be given anonymously online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
Phil O’Shea, Acting Chair, of Isle of Man Crimestoppers, said:
“These incidents of vandalism have caused damage running into tens of thousands of pounds and caused stress and inconvenience for the vehicle owners. Criminal activity such as this is clearly unacceptable. We hope that the offer of this reward will encourage anyone who has information about who took part in these vandal attacks – but who may not wish to divulge such information directly to the police – to pass on what they know anonymously to Crimestoppers.”
Sergeant Andy Kneen, Ops Sergeant for Isle of Man Constabulary’s North/South/West Neighbourhood Policing Teams, commented:
“Enquiries into this case are continuing. Officers from Southern Neighbourhood Policing Team arrested and interviewed a Castletown man in connection with this series of offences. He was subsequently bailed without charge. The Police are still speaking with potential witnesses and await the results of CCTV and forensic lines of enquiry. I would urge anyone that has any information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, to come forward as it may assist us in seeing the full picture.”
Anyone calling Crimestoppers who requests a reward will be given a code which will be the only way of identifying them any time they ring back or collect a reward. They will be asked to contact Crimestoppers at a later date to find out if the information they have given has led to somebody being arrested and charged. If this is confirmed, a process for the caller to collect the reward will be confirmed with the assurance that their anonymity will not be compromised.
