A MAN has expressed his concerns for public safety after several vehicles had their tyres slashed at a garage in Basingstoke.
The incident happened at some time between 8pm on Friday, October 11, and 6am on Saturday, October 12, at Group 1 Ford in Aldermaston Road, Basingstoke.
Steve Trumm is the owner of one of five vehicles that were damaged in the incident, and he told the Gazette that he is "flukily lucky" that he had a spare set of tyres that he was able to replace on the vehicle which he is sending to Ukraine with military supplies to help the war effort.
He said: "I'm fortunate I had the resources to get it fixed, in my case I was flukily lucky to have a spare set of tyres for Ford to put on, but others won't have been so fortunate.
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"My concern is not so much the fact that the tyres were slashed, but the fact that someone is walking around at night who might have a blade on them, and deciding to do damage."
Steve, a former police officer and semi-retired train driver, urged the police to "take the matter seriously."
He added: "Criminal damage is annoying, but someone is walking around with a blade, that's what worries me. There is CCTV and the police are aware. I just hope they take it seriously so this person can't harm anybody.
"There is a wealth of information available and I would like the police to do their job."
He added: "While I was fortunate that my vehicle was a donor vehicle, one I am using to send specialist equipment to Ukraine, so I had the resources to get it fixed - others might not have been so lucky - there could have been a tradesman who needs that vehicle to earn a living and will lose a days pay from it."
A spokesperson for Hampshire Constabulary told the Gazette: "Officers are investigating after the tyres on a number of vehicles were damaged in Basingstoke.
"At some time between 8pm on 11 October and 6am on 12 October five vehicles were damaged at Think Ford on Aldermaston Road.
"The incident is under investigation and anyone with information should contact police online or on 101 quoting 44240443800."
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