Don’t toy with tragedy

Following incidents where bricks were thrown at lorries on the A57 at the end of last month, we have been working in collaboration with the County Council and Highways Agency to reduce the chances of this happening again.

As a result, we hope that new fencing and another security camera will be installed in the area.

While those of us with an ounce of common sense realise throwing stones at cars is highly dangerous, the perpetrators appear to be remiss of or simply indifferent to this danger.

Let us be clear, throwing anything into a road is toying with tragedy and it will not be tolerated.

What may seem like harmless bits of stone in the hand become deadly missiles when they hit moving vehicles, especially if they make contact with windscreens or go under wheels.

If a vehicle travelling at speed is forced to swerve from a hurtling rock, it could cause a serious crash, affecting not only the driver and passengers, but anyone else who may be in their path.

Smashed windscreens effectively blind the motorist, who can no longer see the road ahead.

While this may have been a bit of fun for the offenders, this could have resulted in death for their victims.

The Neighbourhood policing teams have been working with local schools to ensure students are aware of the dangers and consequences of such actions. We would like to ask parents to do the same.

We have also increased patrols in the area and anyone caught in the act will be arrested.

Car fires in the Manton area have also been plaguing local residents. The plastic casing of number plates are being set alight and the flames left to quickly spread to the rest of the vehicle.

This is a mindless act by selfish individuals and results in weeks of hardship for those left without their cars.

There are people out there who know who the culprits are and we are appealing to anyone with any information to contact us.

So far in 2012 there have been 18 incidents of this kind in the area. We have arrested and bailed four people in connection with the arsons, but our enquiries continue.

In a similar vein, we have also seen an increase in the theft of off-road vehicles, such as quad bikes and motorcycles. They are later found burnt-out and abandoned.

Pay particular attention to the security of these vehicles. Use immobilisers, alarms, and where possible anchor them to the ground in a locked garage.

Anyone with any information about the above issues, or to report suspicious behaviour of this nature, contact Worksop Police Station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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