Beach hut owners catch vandals red-handed

But six weeks on they are furious with the delay in the police prosecution.

Lori Doswell and her husband Kevin own Russell's beach huts close to the sailing club.

Six weeks ago they caught five youths on camera breaking into one of the 40 huts, after suffering weeks of wanton vandalism since the huts went up in April.

"Immediately they went up we started having problems," said Lori. "Vandals have been knocking the locks off the doors, graffiti, and hitting the hut walls with something heavy. The older ones are not that strong and easier to break into.

"And while we were on holiday a friend looking after the huts discovered three girls sleeping in one of them.

"The police can do nothing. It is criminal damage. But there are not enough police around to control it. So we started to watch ourselves at different times during the evening.

"On Friday night six weeks ago we had had enough. We were sick of going to the huts each morning to find they had been damaged, wrecked, broken into and chairs and tables broken. Nothing had been stolen, it was just vandalism to the huts and decking.

"My husband and a friend went down and saw five youths crossing the promenade after kicking over some of the road works signs. They then went on to the beach.

The men went to either end of the huts and found a group breaking into one of the huts. He took photographs before the youths fled. They gave chase, the police were called and three were arrested.

Lori believes the three then named the others involved, but has heard nothing since.

"Basically at the end of the day we have had no response back from the police. In six weeks we have had one call.

"My husband wants to prosecute because over 1,000 worth of damage had been done. Kevin has made a statement but his friend has yet to. We just want to know what is happening."

Lori said it was not just the damage that was a nuisance but also having to break the bad news to hut-owners.

"A lot of holders are elderly people and because of the vandalism might not return next season. Many have been good and understand but if it continues some might be put off coming back. People want to use the beach and huts. We have had an awful lot of interest this season. We are providing a service but at the end of the day it will die if the vandalism problems continue."

Since the arrests vandalism has stopped at the huts, apart from several small graffiti incidents two weeks ago.