Town vandals ripping up trees and attacking buses
UGCChildren have been throwing bricks at buses and fire engines and ripping up newly planted trees in a town.
Police say the youngsters have been damaging buses and taxis in Hardwick and Thornaby, in Stockton, Teesside, since the end of November.
Resident David Pennington said youths had been throwing rocks, fireworks and needles at his property for years and that the trees the council planted to protect his property had been ripped up.
Ch Insp Jamie Bell, of Cleveland Police, said the vandalism was being done "predominantly by children" and warned "it might seem like fun but is it really dangerous".
Mr Pennington said he had been targeted by anti-social behaviour on Tithebarn Road for six years and Stockon-on-Tees Borough Council recently planted conifers and cherry laurels to protect his home.
Within two weeks, the trees had been ripped up and he had to go out with the council to replant them.
"I've asked for stakes to be put in with the trees but I have been told no," he said.
"This footpath is an absolute nightmare, there are motorbikes up and down here all the time, there's kids with balaclavas on throwing bricks at windows, we've had fireworks over, dog poo bags thrown onto the roof and hypodermic needles in the garden."
Councillor Norma Stephenson, cabinet member for community safety, said following reports of anti-social behaviour targeting homes next to the path, the trees were planted to "improve the security" and reduce the risk of crime.
She said: "Unfortunately, the trees were vandalised and pulled out.
"The community payback team have now replanted them."
Stephenson said the council's civic enforcement team was supporting the police in trying to identify those responsible for the anti-social behaviour.
StagecoachStagecoach North East said it was "deeply concerned" by the attacks on its buses, which were making it increasingly challenging to carry out regular services in the area.
A spokesperson said Stagecoach would continue to work with police and the local council, and would consider using a Trojan Bus filled with police ready to catch offenders.
Ch Insp Bell said: "It might seem like innocent fun on their part - it isn't, it is really dangerous.
"All it takes is a momentary distraction from the driver and the next thing you know we will have a collision or a pedestrian is run over.
"Parents need to know where their children are, why they are wearing balaclavas, who they are associating with."
Police have implemented a dispersal order in Hardwick until Sunday at 16:00 GMT.
It enables officers to order anyone who is believed to be in the area to cause anti-social behaviour to leave and not to return for 48 hours. If they do, they can then be arrested.
A further order is in place for Thornaby, including near McDonalds and the Pavilion, where police said they received reports of youths throwing items at vehicles.
