Night of crime in Penryn as Kernow Kars and Poltair Road hit

Christian Waterfield, general manager of Kernow Kars in Kernick Road, Penryn, described it as “mindless, anti-social vandalism” and called upon the community to come together and put an end to it.

A group of around eight teenagers, estimated to be between 16 and 18 years old, were heard at around 2am ramming a shopping trolley repeatedly into a silver Audi, denting the bodywork, smashing a headlight and kicking off a wing mirror.

An estimated £600 of further damage was caused to other vehicles.

It is unlikely that the car sales business will be able to claim for the damage on insurance, because of the cost of the excess combined with the inevitable rise in insurance premium next year making it prohibitive.

The trolley was left by the damaged Audi. Photo: Kernow Kars

Mr Waterfield, who runs the business with his brother James , employing three local people, told the Packet: “It’s sad. It’s one of those crimes where if we don’t deal with it now, at this level, and people don’t realise that sort of behaviour you’re not going to get away with – it’s just not acceptable – what else do they go on and do?

“You think, how long is it going to go on for, how many incidents are we going to have before it gets stopped? And it’s such a mindless crime.

“We’re a local family business; we’re not here making a fortune, we’re not a national company where it’s an inconvenience that you have to sort out. It has a real, knock-on effect on us.

“I have a young family and my brother has a young family, and we have to pay for that.”

The damaged wing mirror and headlight. Photo: Kernow Kars

He added that he had since spoken with a member of staff at nearby Penryn College, who told him he had been confronted by a group who were “aggressive” and went on to attack the school’s minibuses.

Since posting about the damage on social media, a resident of Poltair Road, which runs adjacent to Kernick Road, has also contacted Mr Waterfield to say that seven further cars were also damaged there last night.

Writing on Facebook, Mr Waterfield said: “We do not want to see this sort of behaviour take hold in our community and such things go unreported or unpunished.

“We would like to come together with other residents and members to see what can be done to protect our community as a whole.”

Other vehicles were also damaged. Photo: Kernow Kars

He went on to add to the Packet: “We’d like to come together with anybody else interested in the community, and see if there’s anything we can do in terms of an enhanced neighbourhood watch.

“If the police aren’t going to fill the gap, because they’re obviously overstretched with resources, we have to come together as a community and doing something about it.”

Anyone who saw what happened or can help the police with investigations should call 101, using reference number CR/069662/19.