POLICE patrols have been stepped up in parts of Ipswich after 17 cars were damaged as part of a crime wave hitting the area.Residents stood in disbelief in Sandpiper Road in south west Ipswich after the cars had their windows smashed in an early morning attack.

POLICE patrols have been stepped up in parts of Ipswich after 17 cars were damaged as part of a crime wave hitting the area.

Residents stood in disbelief in Sandpiper Road in south west Ipswich after the cars had their windows smashed in an early morning attack.

The incident is just one in a crime wave hitting the area which has caused thousands of pounds of damage and which has forced police to step up patrols in the area. Last week, The Evening Star revealed how several cars in the area had been set on fire.

Julie Reed, of Sandpiper Road, is one of the 17 people to have her car targeted.

She said: “It was about 4am on Tuesday morning that the phone rang. It was a neighbour calling to tell me that the windows of my car had been smashed.

“When I went outside there were dozens of residents in the street and police officers everywhere.

“The worst thing about all of this is that it has happened in the school holidays and I have now been left without transport to take out my three children out and keep them occupied.”

Pat George, also of Sandpiper Road had her Ford Mondeo was targeted.

She said: “It was all the windows facing into the road so it would seem someone has gone along and smashed every window they could see.

“The attacks caused a lot of damage to the cars. Ours had the two side windows and the back one smashed in.”

Ipswich borough councillor Nadia Cenci who lives in Furness Close said: “People's tolerance to crime seems to have gone down in recent years. People do not report things to the police if it is a bit of damage to a car or if they see a stolen car being set fire to.

“But I urge everyone to report these crimes to show just what a problem we have here.”

Police said witnesses to the car damage described the offenders as three white boys aged 15 to 16-years-old and wearing hooded tops and dark clothing.

Inspector Richard Lane, who covers west of Ipswich, said: “I understand these incidents are very distressing for residents and can assure them patrols will be increased. Police are liaising with the council and community representatives in a bid to deal with the situation.

“People need to report these crimes so we can trace the movements of those carrying them out.”

Anyone who has any information about any of these incidents should contact sergeant Karl Nightingale, from the South West Safer Neighbourhood Team, on 01473 613500.

N Have you been the victim of crime in this area? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Speakers were stolen from a white Vauxhall Nova van as it was parked in store premises in Chancery Road, between Friday at 10.30pm and Monday at 9am.

The front grill of the vehicle was also stolen.

A silver Citroen Saxo was set alight as it was parked in Furness Close between 6pm on Monday and 3.45am on Tuesday .

Seventeen cars in Furness Close, Sandpiper Road, Prince of Wales Drive and Maidenhall Approach, had windows smashed between midnight and 4am on Tuesday .

Fire Crews were called to Lavenham Road on March 26 and March 29 to cars which had been dumped on the green and set alight.

A Peugeot 106 was set alight in Heatherhayes, Ipswich, shortly before 5am on March 29.

At 4.30am on March 29 fire crews were called to Sandpiper Road, Ipswich, to a Suzuki Vitara which had been set alight.