POLICE believe that a random spate of wing-mirrors damaged on parked cars may have been caused by people on their drunken way home after a night out in Wellington.

Sgt Jon O’Connor, of Wellington Police, told local councillors at their recent meeting that cars were parked in the Howard Road area of the town when persons unknown had “whacked a load of wing mirrors off for no apparent reason.”

He made his monthly report to Wellington Town Council where he said the “most significant” increase in crime had been in criminal damage offences.

He said: “We saw a number of offences recorded in one evening where it appears a group of people took it upon themselves to indiscriminately damage car wing mirrors whilst passing through a residential road.

“We are collating CCTV and doorbell footage along with canvassing for witnesses so that the offenders can be identified and brought to justice in light of the financial expense incurred by this senseless behaviour.”

Sgt O’Connor reported that local officers had received a total of 259 calls in Wellington during February and out of these 88 crimes were recorded.

Violence against the person was top with 40 crimes, while public order offences amounted to 18 and there were ten reported acts of arson and criminal damage.

There were also nine thefts, four sexual offences, four vehicle offences, two burglaries and one incident of possession of weapons.

Sgt O’Connor said the person responsible for damage caused to a window at Perry’s hardware store in Fore Street, Wellington, back in January had been identified.

“He’s been interviewed by police and arrangements have been made to repay the cost of the replacement glass,” he said.

Sgt O’Connor added that MP Gideon Amos would be joining officers on Friday, March 6, for a walkaround in Wellington.