A mysterious act of vandalism has shaken a quiet neighbourhood in Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex. After a newly arrived couple decided to take down a strawberry tree that was causing damage to their property, they woke up to a troubling scene. The tyres on their cars and another vehicle were slashed, and a menacing message was etched into a neighbour’s van, reading “I am a tree vandal.”
The couple, aged 64 and 65, had moved from Lancaster and were acting on surveyor recommendations when they removed the tree to prevent potential structural damage. However, it seems someone took serious issue with their decision! The wife recounted how they first found out about the vandalism from a concerned neighbour, and the shocking realisation that it was no random act quickly set in.
The damage was significant, with 12 tyres slashed and the van taking the brunt of it. The couple has already spent £649 replacing some of the tyres, and the repair bill continues to rise. Meanwhile, their neighbour’s van, caught in the crossfire, has left its owner devastated by the unwarranted damage and financial strain.
The local police have been involved but are yet to identify the culprit. They urge anyone with information or CCTV footage to step forward. The couple is left feeling vulnerable, noting the lengths taken by the vandal, pondering why such a response and hoping for no repeat of such an unsettling ordeal.
It’s a reminder of how community tensions can simmer below the surface, and how quickly they can boil over into unexpected and distressing actions. Let’s hope this issue sees resolution soon and brings back the peace we all cherish in our neighbourhoods.