Les Genats Estate residents see an increase in vandalism

Vehicles have also had obscene graffiti drawn on them in tomato sauce and mayonnaise, which has also been squirted over the bodywork as well as over the walls of houses.

A caretaker’s shed at the nearby La Mare de Carteret schools was also recently destroyed by fire.

Estate residents spoken to by the Guernsey Press all said that these problems have arisen only recently. They think they involve many teenagers from outside the area.

Many people did not want to have their names published for fear of reprisals.

Guernsey Police issued an appeal for information this week following reports of cars having tyres slashed on the estate.

Residents said this was probably done by the youths.

Police have been attending and many residents said they had seen officers on the estate.

‘A group of about 40 kids have been coming down,’ said one woman.

‘My car’s been kicked, but I’ve not heard of anyone having their tyres slashed.

‘The fear is if you come out and say anything to them it’ll get worse. Police have been patrolling for a couple of nights.’

The problem started in the last month or so, she said.

‘They just appeared. One or two might live on the estate but I’ve not seen them, only heard them. I won’t come out. I don’t want them to come to my door.’

Marilyn Penney was visiting a friend’s home on the estate and said that the problem with vandalism was something she had been trying to have addressed for years.

Her own car had been vandalised while at her home and her son’s car in a Town car park had been so badly damaged it was a write-off.

She had tried to arrange a meeting with the police and a deputy to have the issue addressed island-wide.

‘It’s all over Guernsey. It needs the whole community to get involved.’

She had shouted at a group of youths she suspected of vandalism on one occasion.

‘I said you have a beautiful island to live in and I don’t want to see it destroyed, but they just said it was boring. The kids just insult everyone and their language is disgusting.

‘It wasn’t like that when I was young, there was no trouble. I was born here. Why should I have to put up with it?’

Another woman resident was one of several who have had car wing mirrors smashed, and ketchup and mayonnaise poured all over her vehicle.

The incidents have been reported to the police.

Resident Phil Myers said his car tyres had been let down on one occasion, but the most recent issue was with scooters riding too close and causing damage to the bodywork.

He knew that police had been contacted and had come to the estate.

‘But when they come they don’t do anything.

‘They come about 5pm when all the kids are having their tea but the trouble happens between about 7 and 8pm.’

Like others, he thought the estate’s own youngsters were generally well-behaved and blamed outsiders for the trouble.

Another man whose home was egged and has had vehicles damaged said the estate had ‘got a bit worse’.

‘It’s bored kids and it wouldn’t matter anyway if you caught them, because you can’t do anything.’