Angry residents have called for security cameras to be installed in an Ipswich street after their cars were once again targeted by vandals.

Ipswich Star: Philip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLPhilip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: Archant)

Wing mirrors on 16 vehicles parked in Kings Avenue, located near Alexandra Park, were damaged shortly after midnight today.

Neighbours say these attacks happen often and claim the road is also plagued by speeding drivers who use it as a rat run to avoid the Grove Lane traffic lights.

Philip Wright, 51, had his wing mirror knocked off.

He said: “I was pretty mad when I first came out this morning.

Ipswich Star: Philip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLPhilip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: Archant)

“We have all been young once and did silly things but I can honestly say I never did something like that.

“The thing that worries me is if I get it fixed and it happens again.

“Things like that you don’t want to go through insurance because it puts up your premium so you foot the bill yourself.”

Zoe Baldwin’s car was damaged today and she said her wing mirror had been stolen seven times in two years.

Ipswich Star: Philip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLPhilip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: Archant)

“There’s a lot of crime in this area,” she said.

“The other day I called the police because there were 15 lads jumping over the fence to get into the park after it was closed but I didn’t see a police car turn up.

“I know they have a lot of important things to do but these are people’s cars and we have kids so we need them to be safe.

“Cars are constantly being damaged down here.”

Ipswich Star: Philip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLPhilip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: Archant)

The 40-year-old said neighbours had previously asked for CCTV to be installed but had no success.

Matthew Drown had his car wing mirror trashed today for the second time in three weeks.

The 34-year-old said: “Cameras would help, I would certainly welcome that if it was proposed.”

Mr Drown said he had seen groups of youths jumping onto people’s car bonnets down Kings Avenue in the past.

Ipswich Star: Philip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLPhilip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: Archant)

Claudia Bradbury, 39, had a wing mirror on her car smashed off.

She said: “It would be great if they put cameras here.

“It would be ideal because people would stop doing things like that when they see the cameras – it’s like a protection.”

Steve Cowley, 67, was visiting friend and Kings Avenue resident Lucy Trenchard from France when his car was targeted today.

Ipswich Star: Philip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELLPhilip Wright had his wing mirror smashed off. Picture: GEMMA MITCHELL (Image: Archant)

Ms Trenchard said her vehicle was damaged two weeks ago for the third time.

She said: “This is obviously a particularly nasty spree whoever it was went on. I don’t know why someone would do it.”

Ms Trenchard has previously complained to her local councillor about vehicles speeding down the road.

“This road is used as a cut through,” she said. “In the mornings it’s like a race track.

“I don’t mind the cars coming through if they poodle along but the problem is they are trying to beat the lights at the bottom of Grove Lane.

“They come down here at 30 to 40 miles per hour, it’s a major problem.”

Suffolk Constabulary is appealing for anyone with information about the vandalism to contact 101 quoting reference CAD 12 of February 1.