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Wiggles Playgroup staff cars targeted along Clarence Row near Sheppey Leisure Complex

Playgroup staff have had to spend hundreds of pounds on repairs after their cars were repeatedly targeted by vandals.

Employees at Sheerness-based Wiggles have had their vehicles scratched and tyres slashed and deflated over the last year.

The man suspected of letting down car tyres along Clarence Row, Sheerness
The man suspected of letting down car tyres along Clarence Row, Sheerness

Business owner Vicki McManus is worried by the continuous damage along Clarence Row near the Sheppey leisure complex.

And she says one of her workers actually spotted a man letting tyres down last week.

The 46-year-old said: "It was around March last year this started happening. It began when one of my staff had a slit tyre.

"We didn't know if perhaps she'd done it herself by going up on the kerb or something.

"But then it happened again, and that's when we got a little bit concerned.

"We thought maybe the vandal thought her car was someone else's and that is why they were targetting it.

"Those incidents resulted in her having to buy two new tyres and from then on she started parking behind my car outside the building rather than down Clarence Row."

Wiggles Playgroup in Sheerness
Wiggles Playgroup in Sheerness

Vicki and her four members of staff hoped the vandalism had stopped but over the last nine months, tyres have had air caps removed before being deflated.

The businesswoman, who opened the playgroup in 2015, explained: "This has happened on nine occasions with the most recent last Tuesday.

"At one point I had two members of staff go at the end of the day and all their caps and been removed and thrown elsewhere.

"It's become really upsetting for some of the staff. They leave work, it's dark and they have to come back in and say their tyres have been let down.

"We try to search for the little caps because they are usually thrown nearby but on most occasions, my staff have to ring their husbands."

Vicki said on one occasion one worker had to leave her car over the weekend because she couldn't get anybody to sort her tyre.

One of the cars along Clarence Row which has had its tyres let down last June
One of the cars along Clarence Row which has had its tyres let down last June

She continued: "My car has even been scratched across the bonnet.

"I watched as a woman came and took a wee in front of my car in the middle of the day and then scratched it."

Due to the constant damage, Vicki has spoken to the police.

She said: "One of my ladies had to pay £270 on two new tyres, another bought an electric pump to re-inflate them and another two of them have had to go and buy anti-theft caps to stop them coming come off.

"It's been really stressful, to the point I was even worried some of my staff might leave.

"This vandalism is costing them money and causing them stress. Their husbands are really cross about the whole situation as well.

Vicki McManus, owner of Wiggles Playgroup in Sheerness
Vicki McManus, owner of Wiggles Playgroup in Sheerness

"They're having to come out of work and help their wives. At first I thought it may have been kids mucking around.

"But on Tuesday, one of my staff was sitting in her car and watched a man walk up and bend down at each vehicle.

"When he got to one of my other staff members' cars she literally watched him bend down and stay there.

"She opened her window and straight away she heard hissing as the tyre went down.

"She quickly took a photo and then saw him walk to another three cars and do the same thing.

"She then came and told us. Now the police are investigating the situation."

Where Wiggles Playgroup staff park their cars. Picture: Google Maps
Where Wiggles Playgroup staff park their cars. Picture: Google Maps

She added: "It isn't just our cars, it is almost every vehicle down that road.

“So if the same thing has happened to anyone else, please report it.”

Police say inquires are ongoing into the matter.

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