Residents’ safety Fear As Mystery Savage Catapulters Still At Large
Sutton (UK):
A group of Wallington residents say they are living in fear as their homes and cars have been regularly bombarded by missiles fired from catapults.Properties in Butter Hill were first attacked with large pebbles and metal bolts, which smashed car windscreens and roof tiles, on the evening of August 1.In the following weeks, further attacks have taken place every few days causing £2,500 of damage and leaving residents nervous.During the first bombardment, Shirley Hoad, 61, was hit on the arm and since then her and husband, Ken, have collected 49 missiles which have struck their property."We have been terrified, absolutely terrified, to the point where we are not sleeping at night," she said. "We have no idea who is doing this and it is terrifying us all. We are all paranoid about noises, we're under siege."I'm usually a very happy person but this is now depressing me and my neighbours because we are scared."Mrs Hoad said she thought the front of her house was falling down when the first missiles struck at 9.30pm on August 1.
Police were called to the house but were unable to pinpoint the source of the attack and when they left objects began raining down on the properties again.
More attacks occurred on the following Wednesday and Thursday setting a pattern which has continued until the last reported attack on September 14."We've had this twice a week now just as and when they feel like it," Mrs Hoad said. "We've had roof tiles broken and windows smashed. We are talking about beach pebbles here.
One landed two feet away from my husband in the back garden and it was so embedded (in the ground) it has to be dug out."Sutton police have appealed for members of the public to come forward with information in order to catch those firing the catapults.
Sept. 22, 2005
Richard Lyons, Sutton Borough Guardian, UK
Sutton (UK):A group of Wallington residents say they are living in fear as their homes and cars have been regularly bombarded by missiles fired from catapults.Properties in Butter Hill were first attacked with large pebbles and metal bolts, which smashed car windscreens and roof tiles, on the evening of August 1.In the following weeks, further attacks have taken place every few days causing £2,500 of damage and leaving residents nervous.During the first bombardment, Shirley Hoad, 61, was hit on the arm and since then her and husband, Ken, have collected 49 missiles which have struck their property."We have been terrified, absolutely terrified, to the point where we are not sleeping at night," she said. "We have no idea who is doing this and it is terrifying us all. We are all paranoid about noises, we're under siege."I'm usually a very happy person but this is now depressing me and my neighbours because we are scared."Mrs Hoad said she thought the front of her house was falling down when the first missiles struck at 9.30pm on August 1.
Police were called to the house but were unable to pinpoint the source of the attack and when they left objects began raining down on the properties again.
More attacks occurred on the following Wednesday and Thursday setting a pattern which has continued until the last reported attack on September 14."We've had this twice a week now just as and when they feel like it," Mrs Hoad said. "We've had roof tiles broken and windows smashed. We are talking about beach pebbles here.
One landed two feet away from my husband in the back garden and it was so embedded (in the ground) it has to be dug out."Sutton police have appealed for members of the public to come forward with information in order to catch those firing the catapults.
Sept. 22, 2005
Richard Lyons, Sutton Borough Guardian, UK
