By Mal Butler
Vandals have struck again in the West Wight, wrecking a defibrillator and damaging trees planted to celebrate the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Police cracked down on a group of teenagers who were causing trouble in and around Freshwater, with damage to various buildings and shoplifting over the last year. But last week there were incidents in Colwell Bay and Freshwater Bay – including the use of a knife.
Regarding the incident at Colwell Bay, a police spokesman said: “Around 2am last Wednesday morning (September 27), a group of youths thought it was a good idea to remove the defibrillator from the box outside of the Colwell toilets and play about with it.
“This ended in the defibrillator being thrown on the roof of the toilet block. Although we have managed to reach the defibrillator itself, the case remains on the roof. This will need to be checked/repaired, if possible, before being returned.”
Meanwhile, in Freshwater Bay, a knife has been taken to several crab apple trees planted as part of the ‘Queen’s Canopy’. A resident said: “Please could you keep a lookout in Freshwater Bay; our new trees, the crab apple avenue of trees for the Queen’s Canopy, have been damaged by someone – very worryingly – with a knife. It is being reported to the police.
“They have done this over several days. Could anyone in the vicinity check their CCTV or webcams.
“If you see a person or people doing this, please take a picture but don’t put yourself at risk. If you see anything contact the police or any of the members of Freshwater Bay Residents’ Association.”
Carole Dennett