Tyres slashed in senseless attack

By Sarah Schwager
OWNERS of a Lynbrook automotive company are reeling after 14 tyres were slashed at the property in an overnight attack.
Fletcher Johnson, owner of Peerless Automotives, was horrified when he turned up at the business last Friday to find two of their cars’ and two customers’ cars’ tyres slashed.
“I couldn’t believe it. This is the second time this has happened,” Mr Johnson said.
“It looks like bored kids with nothing else to do on their school holidays.”
Lying nearby were smashed Jim Beam bottles used to slash the tyres in the random act of vandalism.
While the Lynbrook Boulevard property is surrounded by barbed wire fences, there was no sign of tampering.
“I don’t know how they got over the fence,” Mr Johnson said. “Last time (about two to three months ago) they cut through the wire and broke into one car and took the stereo and gauges. This time they haven’t taken anything.”
Mr Johnson has had to replace the tyres on three of the cars, including a Subaru and two Holdens, all 2000 models, out of his own pocket, and has patched up the tyres on his own car.
The vandalism happened between 8.30pm last Thursday and 7.50am on Friday, with the 14 tyres estimated at about $2000 all up.
“It has really put a strain on the business. We only just moved here over Christmas,” Mr Johnson said.
The automotive business is not the only one in the area to be affected by vandals. Burdens Plumbing Supplies, on Business Park Drive, has also had its fair share of trouble this year, while last year Cranbourne police pleaded for nearby residents to be on the lookout after vandals ran rampant in the Lynbrook industrial precinct.
Damage included smashed factory windows, doors and walls and destroyed machinery used to ram into cars, buildings, other machinery and boom gates.
At the time, builders of the new factories were concerned the vandalism was turning away business in the area.
Mr Johnson said now that many businesses had moved into the industrial estate, the burglary and damage had reduced.
However, he said something still needed to be done to stop the acts of theft and vandalism.
“I’m going to have to think about security cameras out the back now, and maybe even a sensor alarm out back,” he said.
“Or maybe I could get a couple of Rottweilers,” he said, laughing. “That would be a lot more effective.”
Anyone with information on the incident is urged to contact Constable Amy Perrin at Cranbourne Uniform on 5991 0600 or CrimeStoppers on 1800 333 000.