SEVERAL car drivers and passengers have narrowly avoided serious injuries and been left shaken after rocks were thrown at vehicles in Rockwell Green near Wellington.
Damage has been caused to car windows and panels, including on a wheelchair-accessible taxi, while cyclists have reportedly been targeted by the “kids”.
Avon and Somerset Police said the neighbourhood policing team is aware of the incidents and “continuing to make enquiries”.
On Saturday night (August 6), a rock described as being around the size of a fist was thrown through the window of a Volkswagen Caddy taxi belonging to Archie’s Cabs.
Owner Paul Hickinbottom said the car’s window was smashed at 6.17pm on Exeter Road near All Saints Church and the community allotment.
The rock narrowly missed a man’s head and resulted in minor cuts on his head and arms, while the driver and other three passengers were unharmed but “showered in glass”.
The company has taken the car off the road while the damage is repaired, leaving it with one wheelchair-accessible vehicle.
Mr Hickinbottom said: “We’d picked some customers up from the new estate in Rockwell Green and were driving them into the town.
“The rock hit the headrest and was found in the back of the vehicle. You cannot bear to think about the devastation it could cause. It’s terrible, really.
“That night, they hit a car before ours. The kids returned a good couple of times that night.”
Mr Hickinbottom said the police “eventually came out” after both incidents had been reported.
“The police turned up and all they did was drive into the allotments and drive out again,” he said.
“It’s terrible, really. Is it going to take someone to die for the police to deal with it?”
Avon and Somerset Police said officers arrived at the scene “as soon as they were available” and searched the area, finding “no trace” of the culprits.
Archie’s Cab will have to pay a £100 excess fee and cover the cost of the glass. The business will also lose £250 per day from one of its most important cars.
“This was at a prime time on a Saturday night, and I’ve had a vehicle off the road,” said Mr Hickinbottom.
“We’re having to make people wait because we haven’t got a second vehicle to do the job. I can only offer one wheelchair-accessible vehicle at the moment.”
On Sunday night between 9:15pm and 9:30pm, Richard Slater’s BMW M4 was struck by a rock when he was driving past the allotment. His wife and two children were in the car.
“I didn’t see who was responsible,” said Mr Slater.
“They were sat 12 or 13 feet above the road in the allotments. I heard a bang and I immediately stopped, thinking I had hit something. I didn’t see the dent at the time.
“I then drove to Blacksheep Barbers to drop my wife off, and that’s when I saw the dent.”
When they reached Blacksheep (Mantle Road), they saw a police car and Transit van nearby with at least three officers dealing with another incident.
He said: “At least one of them could have gone up there (the allotment). I was told to call 101 and get an incident number.”
He said his family was “alright” but “a bit shocked,” adding: “The bang was massive. He must have struggled to get the rock in his hand, it was that big.”
The dents caused to the car by the rock will need pulling out and the bodywork will require re-painting, which will cost around £2,000.
He added: “If it had hit the rear-panel window, it would have hit my son and that would have been a very different story.”
Councillor Marcus Barr, who represents Rockwell Green, said: “For the police, this could have been nipped in the bud a lot quicker if they had taken it seriously sooner.
“I have found out this started 10 days ago when a neighbour had their patio door smashed by a rock. All the police did was give a crime number.
“To have so much damage being done in such a small area, the police must know that something is seriously wrong.
“Greenhouses have been broken. It started with apples being thrown at cars at the beginning of last week. It moved to rocks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.”
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 5.45pm on Saturday, August 6 following reports of rocks being thrown at vehicles and cyclists in Exeter Road in Rockwell Green, Wellington.
“Officers attended the scene as soon as they were available and completed an area tour but found no trace. The neighbourhood policing team is aware and is continuing to make enquiries.
“Luckily, on this occasion, there were only minor injuries. However, this type of reckless behaviour could result in serious injuries.
“If you witnessed anything out of the ordinary, or have any information which could aid the investigation, please call 101 and quote reference number 5222188274.”
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