A garage owner is worried someone could be seriously hurt if police do not catch a gang of vandals who have already smashed up his property and hurled debris into the A23.

John Petrides claims around 12 youths threw hefty gas canisters, heavy duty cable and rocks from the roof of a four storey office next to the Jet Petrol Station in London Road, Norbury, smashing cars and windows, and on one occasion throwing cable into the road.

He claims despite calling the police three times following the incident at around 6.30pm on October 19, they came only once to find the youths gone, and left on a more important call after only a few minutes.

Mr Petrides, 43, said: "The same gang returned at least twice and I called the police so they could catch them red-handed. I was saying, they're here right now!' thinking most crimes are reported when it's too late.

"I thought they were going to cause a major accident if a bus or car came along as the cable was flying into the road, and if one of those canisters were to hit someone I imagine it would kill them."

He claims he was told by a South Norwood police operator that police had not come out at the time because they simply did not have anyone available.

"She said she would like to have helped but there just weren't enough police."

Less than a week later the youths returned and smashed his Landrover with scaffolding.

Mr Petrides added: "If there's not enough police then I don't know what they can do.

"I understand they have armed robberies and bigger priorities but this could have turned out to be very serious."

A police spokesman said police had recorded one call from Mr Petrides on October 19, and could not comment on the other occasions.

But he added: "Although police resources are at times stretched I would always encourage people to report crime, so that officers can attend as quickly as humanly possible."

He said he was concerned Mr Petrides felt he had not received a good service and would be requesting that beat officers contact him with a view to tackling vandalism at the garage.

November 14, 2001 09:30