Bus and taxi vandalism costs tens of thousands
Tens of thousands of pounds of damage has been caused to buses and taxis at a compound off the Pitronnerie Estate.
Young people are being blamed for the damage, where windows were smashed and the inside of the vehicles also damaged on Tuesday night.
Harvey’s Coaches had a yellow coach, white minibus and red coach – a sixth of its fleet – all damaged.
‘There is £20,000 of damage,’ said owner Sean Harvey.
'It’s a lot for a small company.’
Just a few weeks ago he was helping ferry visitors for the royal visit and Mr Harvey said this was a busy time of the year for the company, with many cruise ships in. And repairs will not happen quickly.
Mr Harvey said it was expected the replacement windscreens would need to come from Turkey.
‘So they have got to come and then be fitted,’ he said.
‘I will now lose a good part of £50,000 in earnings.’
He felt that there needed to be more recourse for young people vandalising other people’s property and suggested that the children or their parents should be liable to pay for damage caused in this way.
Guernsey Police confirmed the incident happened at about 9pm on Tuesday and substantial damage was caused.
Several young people were seen in and around the compound and on Rue Sarchet in the Grand Bouet.
Officers are interested in speaking with anyone who may have captured the young people on any doorbell or CCTV cameras.
Island Taxis also had a car damaged. Owner Simon Rebstein said fortunately it was not one he was currently using, but the vandalism was a concern. He had vehicles vandalised on the site several months ago.
He believed the perpetrators lived nearby and noted that for months the fence between the compound and the neighbouring Guernsey Housing Association estate had been damaged, making it too easy for people to trespass.
‘We all pay rent there but there is nothing to stop the kids getting into the compound,’ he said.
Island Coachways is believed to also use the yard, but said they would not be issuing a statement while the police inquiry was ongoing. They urged anyone with information to contact the police.
The States Property Unit have been using the site to store buses since September 2019 using a temporary use planning permission.
In response to the fencing concerns, an SPU spokesman said much of the site was fenced.
‘However, we have noted that some of the fencing has been removed and replaced with a chain. This alteration was not made by SPU.’
Anyone able to help with the information is asked to contact PC 25 Graves on 222 222 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
