Bike vandals use garage as social club

By Georgina James

VANDALS have broken in to the garage of a Vespa enthusiast twice in a week and damaged the bikes he was restoring

Robert Allan, 49 who lives in Pinecroft Road, Ipswich rents a garage in Garrick Way where the two scooters he is restoring have been vandalised. He claims his garage is being used as a social club.

He said: "If they had simply broken in and used my garage as a meeting place or hang out joint then it wouldn't have bothered me so much.

"But they didn't they had to go one step further and damage the things that are dear to me.

"They violated me and what they did to my property made me feel dirty and sick to the stomach."

The two scooters are kept in a rented garage just a couple of streets from Mr Allan's home.

It is unclear as to when the garage was first broken in to but the latest incident happened on either Thursday or Friday night.

"To be honest the first time they broke in I was totally gutted and it broke my heart but this second incident has really angered me.

"It seems like they have been having parties in here. The floor was littered with cigarette ends, chocolate wrappers, beer cans and other alcoholic drinks," said Mr Allan.

Police have taken samples from the cigarette butts that were left in the garage to see if they can trace the culprits responsible.

In the latest incident one scooter was scratched along its side panel, had it fox tail aerial snapped off and was covered in mud.

The culprits entered the garage through the back door.

"They sheared off the pad lock, back lock a dead lock.

"I had only repaired the door and locks some 48 hours earlier," said Mr Allan.

In total the damage to the locks and scooters together with the tools which were also stolen is believed to amount to more than £100.

Anyone with information about the break-ins should telephone Ipswich police on 01473 383100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.