BARNTON residents have been urged to report any incidents of criminal damage to police following a spike in recent months.

There have been 35 incidents of criminal damage in Barnton in the past 90 days, with many of these involving vehicles.

Sgt Kevin Davies is currently leading an investigation into the issue, although no-one has been arrested so far.

“Historically Barnton, every now and again, gets a real issue with people targeting vehicles,” he told the Guardian.

“We call it mindless vandalism – people going round scratching cars.”

The worst recent incident took place in August, where a number of cars spanning across several streets were targeted.

On that occasion, 16 incidents were reported.

“We had two or three streets in Barnton where it looked as though somebody indiscriminately scratched every single car they came across,” Sgt Davies said.

“Not all of them had been reported. Some of them were only discovered when the PCSOs went door to door.”

Barnton resident Ceri Dean has previously been affected by this issue in the past.

She said: “The first time was just a couple of weeks after moving onto Nursery Road, back in 2012.

“I drove my car around the corner and noticed both of my wing mirrors were hanging off.

“I knew it wasn't just some careless driver as it was both sides, so it was deliberate vandalism, and I think a few others along the street had the same.

“Just over a year ago most of the cars along Nursery Road had also been spray painted, including mine, it was reported to the police, they sent forensics for tests but nothing ever came of it.”

Ms Dean also said her family’s new car has recently been scratched, but has not reported it to the police as she is uncertain where it happened.

Sgt Davies urged residents to report any incidences where they think an offence has taken place so the police can build up a true picture of the problem, and act accordingly.

He said: “If they are not being reported then the police don’t have any visibility on it and if we don’t have visibility on it then we’re not going to perceive it to be a problem.

“My message to the public is to report everything you deem to be an offence.”