Kenilworth vandals cause dangerous damage
Vandals in Kenilworth have caused thousands of pounds worth of damage and put the public – including schoolchildren - in grave danger by smashing up street lights in the town.
In two incidents, on 30 September and 19 October, vandals caused damage to street lights in The Blundells, Hibbert Court, Southbank Road and Station Road.
The repairs are expected to cost the tax payer £4,000 and it is unlikely that some of the lights will be working for at least three weeks.
Warwickshire County Council contractors discovered street lighting doors removed, lanterns smashed and the internal electrical equipment vandalised, exposing live terminals.
The street lights were immediately made safe by engineers, but they warned that if touched, the live wires could have caused a fatality to the vandals themselves and the public - including schoolchildren in The Blundells area, which is close to St. Nicholas C of E Community Primary School.
Following a request made by county council officials, police are stepping up patrols in the area. Anyone who witnessed this vandalism, or sees somebody tampering with a street light, should contact the police immediately.
The county council’s Street Lighting engineers are responsible for some 50,000 street lights and illuminated signs across the county.