Thirty cars have tyres slashed

1:00pm Wednesday 9th May 2012 in News By Sam McGregor, covering Bicester. Call me on 01869 250197

Tina Austin was among 30 victims of tyre vandalism in Bicester last month Tina Austin was among 30 victims of tyre vandalism in Bicester last month

A FAMILY was forced to pay out hundreds of pounds after a mindless vandal punctured five of their car tyres in one night.

But Tina and David Austin were not the only two victims – police confirmed a total of 30 vehicles had been targeted in two separate spates in Bicester.

Mother-of-one Mrs Austin was about to set off for work in Bloxham when her husband David noticed she had a flat tyre.

Thinking nothing of it she started to pump it up. But as she looked at the other tyres of her Vauxhall Astra she noticed two more were flat and alarm bells started ringing.

Then a neighbour told her their car had also been targeted.

Office manager Mrs Austin, 40, of Market End Way, said: “David hadn’t checked his car and went to work.

“After my neighbour told me their tyres had been punctured I rang David to tell him to be careful.

“He checked his tyres and two were flat. He had managed to drive all the way to Didcot in the rain with both front tyres flat.

“He could have been killed. I was absolutely fuming.”

A total of 30 cars in the Kings End and Highfield areas of Bicester had been targeted overnight on April 17/18 when 19 cars were vandalised, and April 26/27 when 11 cars were damaged.

Vehicles in Orchard Way, Kennedy Road, Blenheim Drive, Danes Road, Bucknell Road and Market End Way all had tyres punctured overnight between 11.30pm and 5.30am.

Police believe the offender is using a small pointed instrument, such as a dart, to pierce the wall of the tyres.

Insp Neville Clayton said: “The individual doing this may see it as a jolly but it is a serious crime and has an impact on people’s lives and finances.

“People should raise their level of awareness and if they see anyone around their car acting suspiciously they should contact police.”

Anyone with information should call the police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A 15-year-old boy was arrested last Thursday on suspicion of criminal damage.

He was later released on police bail until June 16.

Comments(18)

snert says...
1:04pm Wed 9 May 12

If the 15 year old is guilty he should be forced to pay the victims. If he doesn't have the money then the responsbility should lie with the parents.

A stint of community service would help as well.

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Mark L. says...
1:12pm Wed 9 May 12

Personally, I would break his legs if I caught him.

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roadrashdan says...
1:17pm Wed 9 May 12

“He checked his tyres and two were flat. He had managed to drive all the way to Didcot in the rain with both front tyres flat."

How tired was he that morning not to notice!!!!

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gnash21 says...
3:25pm Wed 9 May 12

Not sure how he could drive 20+miles with 2 flat tyres. I noticed my tyre was flat driving 30mph for about half a mile and the car was making a dredful noise! But thats not the point. People don't have much money at the mo and stupid kids and slashing and punchering tyres! Get some balls and grow up!

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OxfordDon says...
3:29pm Wed 9 May 12

I agree with snert. No doubt the excuse will be 'I was bored'/'I did it for a laugh'/'my parents (etc) hate me' will be trotted out, along with the vacuous 'boys will be boys' from this hooligan's next-of-kin.

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Sophia says...
3:42pm Wed 9 May 12

Poor little kiddie! Probably his cruel parents had refused to get him the new Blackberry. Or maybe he was just protesting against, you know, the cuts. Or did I miss an 'n' out there?

How about some Sharia law, as that seems all the rage? Stick 30 darts in him and see how well he drives afterwards

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gymrat34 says...
4:50pm Wed 9 May 12

roadrashdan wrote:
“He checked his tyres and two were flat. He had managed to drive all the way to Didcot in the rain with both front tyres flat."

How tired was he that morning not to notice!!!!
Exactly! I had two tyres slashed once, I didn't notice before I got in the car because of the way it was parked but I noticed as soon as I started driving!

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Milkbutnosugarplease says...
8:39pm Wed 9 May 12

Maybe that guy had run-flat tyres which let you drive on after a puncture. I believe you can't repair them, so it's an expensive replacement just the same.

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davyboy says...
7:41am Thu 10 May 12

if the 15 year old is the perpetrator of these criminal acts, then it is only right he or his parents stump up the money to replace all these tyres. that would be the ideal punishment, along with some community service, preferably served in a place like national tyres(others are available), so he could also learn a trade.

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## Nonny Mouse ## says...
8:05am Thu 10 May 12

“He checked his tyres and two were flat. He had managed to drive all the way to Didcot in the rain with both front tyres flat.

“He could have been killed. I was absolutely fuming.”

I would hazard a guess that the chap is still in as much danger (to himself and others) if he doesn't notice that he is driving on flats. Passenger of life.

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Mick E says...
10:39am Thu 10 May 12

To the idiots above, have any of you heard of a slow puncture, usually caused by a small sharp implement, like for instance a dart maybe?

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## Nonny Mouse ## says...
12:16pm Thu 10 May 12

Yes. A slow puncture is characterised by a steady drop in pressure over a period. For instance i had one a few weeks ago where my tyre would lose 20psi over about 48hrs after being pumped up to 30psi. A slashed tyre insinuateds that the sidewall has been opened with a knife. The story lists 'flat' tyres. A flat tyre and a low tyre are quite different.

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thesarge2 says...
4:21pm Thu 10 May 12

So how do I get him to pay up if he is proved guilty? I bet his parents are on benefits. here's an idea lets stop they're money till all the victims have been paid.

This should be a given if found guilty. Why should criminals be allowed to leave victims out of pocket. I Lost 4 tyres on 2 cars.

Also if found guilty his picture should be posted all over town and Facebook.

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oxfordboy00 says...
10:48pm Thu 10 May 12

the victims were not FORCED to pay hundreds of pounds as u can get much cheaper tyres, and how can an idiot drive to didcot and not know his tyres are flat????, ive only been driving for a year and i know in 2minutes if a tyre is flat, and btw the kid should be locked up for 6 months to a year

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iklhik says...
9:59am Fri 11 May 12

thesarge2 wrote:
So how do I get him to pay up if he is proved guilty? I bet his parents are on benefits. here's an idea lets stop they're money till all the victims have been paid.

This should be a given if found guilty. Why should criminals be allowed to leave victims out of pocket. I Lost 4 tyres on 2 cars.

Also if found guilty his picture should be posted all over town and Facebook.
Unfortunately the soft touch courts we have will let them pay it back at £2/week or something derisory. Just going through the same thing with a chav that kicked my wing mirror off, found guilty but a pack of lies were wheeled out in court about how he's "working hard", "trying to change" - despite him doing exactly the same thing back in November to someone else's car.

I told the judge I thought it was a farce and that there is no way my credit card company, to whom I've already paid the £300 for repairs, would accept a £2/week payment because I didn't want to cut back on the fags and booze. The criminals are laughing at the courts as soon as they've finished their lies in court.

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Nicolal1892 says...
10:25am Fri 11 May 12

We had 10 tyres done in our house, and we ain't going to get any money back for that little s*** the police ain't got enough evidence to do anything. Why don't they just tell people who it is. Sadly because he's a youth you can't find out when he goes to court.

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mandate says...
10:40pm Fri 11 May 12

A man read an ad in the Oxford Mail about a sale on steel-belted radial tires. He jumped up, exclaiming that he would quickly buy four tires while the sale was on.

His wife complained, ?I don't know what's wrong with you. You are going to buy four expensive tires when you've got a crappy and worn out old car?

The man replied, Don't make such a big deal about it! I didn't complain when you bought that expensive new bra, did I??

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Sticky Feet says...
11:40pm Fri 11 May 12

oxfordboy00 wrote:
the victims were not FORCED to pay hundreds of pounds as u can get much cheaper tyres, and how can an idiot drive to didcot and not know his tyres are flat????, ive only been driving for a year and i know in 2minutes if a tyre is flat, and btw the kid should be locked up for 6 months to a year
So your saying that if this happened to be my car involved I should fit the tires that are £198 each back to my vehicle? being that these are standard fitment? Oh ok I maybe could fit the cheaper option... Cheapest for my wheel size and fitment is £148. Run flat tires allow you to drive whilst flat and yeah you can tell you have a flat but its not that obvious (I know I had a flat and drove 30 miles). But then again you have only been driving a year probably in a clapped out nova or something like that.

I cannot believe the disrespect that people can show to others property.. Hope the little turd gets all he deserves!!

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