PREVIEW

WORDS BYLINE: Alex Langridge
A young mum has been left terrified by a mysterious campaign of attacks by balaclava-wearing bikers.
The masked thugs have targeted her car four times in the last two months, with footage capturing the moment they deliberately throw laughing gas canisters at the Nissan Qashqai before smashing its rear window in a separate incident.
The 30-year-old woman, who wishes to stay anonymous, says the incidents started in the middle of August.
The vehicle was parked in Waghorn Street, Chatham, when its rear window was smashed by a man walking past.
A few days later, another person hit the glass on both passenger sides, but only successfully damaged one of them.
Kent Police confirmed it was investigating the two incidents at the time.
For a month, there were no incidents. But then, on September 28, footage was captured of a person riding a bicycle and wearing a balaclava attempting to smash the driver’s window.
The video shows the suspect stopped by the side of the white car before swinging an item on a chain and whacking it against the glass.
The woman said: “I was sitting in my room, and I heard the ‘tink’ of glass and thought, ‘not again’.“ I phoned the police straight away. I was awake all that night as I thought they would come back.”
The next day, CCTV picked up a man circling the car, seemingly taking pictures and videos of it, before leaving the area.
The mum-of-two decided to move the vehicle, parking it on her neighbour’s driveway, but later that night CCTV captured two people throwing laughing gas canisters at it.
The video shows the suspects wearing balaclavas as they come up behind the car on a motorbike before damaging it and fleeing the scene.
She said: “It is more serious than a few times now. It has gone from someone just walking by to someone on a bike wearing balaclavas.
“It is just mind-boggling; it is bizarre. I am petrified. I am scared to be in my own home. I do not know why it keeps on happening.”
She claims that she does not know the people who are targeting her car, which she has owned for a few months, nor would have any reason to target her in particular.
Neighbours have suggested that it could be a case of mistaken identity, but the victim has said that cannot be the case as the vehicle was previously her father’s.
The car has since been moved from the area, but she said the incidents have left her worried about going about her day-to-day life.
She added: “I am scared that now the car is gone, they are going to target the house. I am so paranoid.”
The motorist has also criticised the police’s response, claiming that it has taken multiple phone calls and a visit to the police station before an officer came to investigate.
She said: “I have completely lost faith in the police. They are allowing them to keep doing it.”
Kent Police has confirmed it is investigating several reports of criminal damage to a car believed to have occurred on August 19 and 24 and again on September 28 and 29. Officers have updated the victim this week, and inquiries are ongoing to identify and find those responsible.
Inspector Paul Relf said: “We do not underestimate the impact vehicle crime has on victims, and when a vehicle is targeted on more than one occasion it can be incredibly frustrating and upsetting for those affected.
“Officers are committed to carrying out a full and thorough investigation, including reviewing CCTV opportunities and assessing available forensics with the aim of identifying those responsible and bringing them to justice.
“We will make sure the victim in this case is kept fully updated as things progress.”