WITNESS APPEAL - BURGLARY / CRIMINAL DAMAGE of 16 VEHICLES in WEST END

Good evening Resident

WITNESS APPEAL - Crime Reference No: 44250516170 - Burglary & Criminal Damage - Utilita Bowl Cricket Ground, West End.  

On Friday, 14th November at approximately 17:26 - 19:00 hours, the Utilita Bowl Cricket Ground - car parks 5 & 6, the adjacent yard and a concession stand were illegally entered by five male youths, approximate age between 13 - 16 years old. 

They gained access by climbing the cricket ground railings (via the embankment) and then proceeded to cause serious damage to 16 business vehicles, causing over 100,000k of damage, also putting these vehicles used for school transport, rail replacement, football supporter transport, traffic control at sporting events etc, out of action, resulting in thousands of pounds of lost revenue. 

Criminal Damage to the following:

11 x Double-decker Buses 

2 x Single-decker Buses

1 x Mini-bus

2 x Traffic Management Vans 

The youths have released fire extinguisers inside and outside the buses and thrown them around the yard. They have entered the buses and vans, smashing many windows in most of the above 16 vehicles, some windows kicked out from the inside. They have broken the driver consul covers and smashed skylights in the vehicles.  They have also scattered the contents of the First Aid kits across the car parks, as well as stealing items from the concession stand. 

Description of suspects: 

All juvenile males (approx age between 13 - 16 years) 

One male was wearing a Canada Goose puffa coat with a fur-trimmed hood and logo on the arm. 

Another male was wearing a TrapStar tracksuit 

Some youths were wearing gloves, but not all. (One bus had a written message on the back of it, that was not there prior to the break-in). 

It is believed that they ran towards the nearby golf course, but there are multiple exits from the wooded areas surrounding the Utilita Bowl. Enquiries are being made into the youths direction of travel. 

CAN YOU ASSIST US with our investigation? Do you have - CCTV cameras / Door-bell camera / Dash Camera etc? 

Can you please check your residential / business CCTV to check if any youths passed by either before 17:26 hours or after 1900 hrs on Friday 14th November. 

If you can assist with our enquiries or think you may know the identity of these youths PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE - please call 101 and quote Crime Ref No: 44250516170 - OIC, Sgt 25036 Akehurst. or online here - How to tell us about an existing case or report | Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

Thank you, 

Hedge End North - Neighbourhood Policing Team

Hedge End Police Station