A SPATE of mindless vandalism has hit Haslemere High Street and railway station. At Nicolas off-licence, in the High Street, two attacks in two days left over £1,200 worth of damage. The first incident happened early on Wednesday last week as a brick was thrown through a window, only to be shattered again on Friday morning. Branch manager Jeremy Vigroux has little hope the vandals will be caught as the shop only had an internal CCTV camera. A new, outward facing camera has now been fitted. Friday morning also saw the vandalism of three ticket machines and four windows at Haslemere railway station; a van outside Hammonds newsagent next door, and a car in nearby Tanners Lane. Janet Green of Hammonds said reckless youths were probably to blame as the station has become a popular meeting spot. Youths were hanging around the area at 10.30pm when her boss left the shop and he noticed a number of parties in the area. A South West Trains spokesman said police had been given tapes from four CCTV station cameras. All machines have been repaired following the incident. A Haslemere station official, who wishes to remain nameless, said: "The vandals were probably so thick they didn't think of the cameras". A CCTV camera at the foot of College Hill will also interest police as it covers the area where the off- licence vandals struck. Acting Inspector for Waverley John Eldridge said: "Haslemere is a safe place to live and work and has a very low crime rate. "The community should be assured the neighbourhood team is working to help make the public feel safe and remove offenders from our streets. These incidents are not a typical occurrence in the locality." Anyone with information can contact Surrey Police on 0845 1252222, by e-mail to [email protected]">[email protected] or by writing to Surrey Police Headquarters, Mount Browne, Sandy Lane, Guildford, GU3 1HG; or call anonymously via Crimestoppers on 088 555111.
