News, sport and entertainment from the Bournemouth Echo and Dorset Echo.

Vandals target festive homes

From the Echo, first published Wednesday 12th Dec 2001.

SCROOGES are giving families an unwanted Christmas gift by wrecking their decorations.

Dressing properties during the run-up to Christmas is becoming increasingly popular, but householders in Weymouth are finding decorative bulbs and trees are becoming a target for vandals.

In the latest attack, the Conning family of Chickerell found that the £130 fibre-optic Christmas tree they bought to brighten up the front of their house had been vandalised.

Vandals attempted to remove the 6ft tree from the Conning's front garden in Plover Drive.

The tree was not permanently damaged but Gary Conning, 41, who is married to Gail, 38, and has two children Lewis, 11, and eight-year-old Mitchell, initially thought it was a `write-off.'

He said: "I spent hours putting up the tree and making sure it was wired up properly.

"It wasn't just a five minute job. I made a permanent base for it and bolted it down and I also attached fishing line to the trunk which I secured to the ground.

"We woke up one morning to find the tree damaged. I thought it was the wind but on closer inspection I discovered that someone had tried to pull the tree away and had bent the base of it in the process. I thought it was beyond repair but I managed to bend it back into shape."

Mr Conning, a prison officer, added: "My father, who lives at Littlesea, had his Christmas lights broken for the second time running. I can't see who would enjoy wrecking Christmas decorations."

Store worker Mrs Conning said: "It is totally mindless. We bought the tree as a surprise for the children and it only lasted one night.

"This is the first time we've decorated our house but we're in two minds whether to do it again next year."

Simon Smith, 33, who lives in nearby Maskew Close, had some of his Christmas light bulbs pinched during the same night.

He said: "I've decorated my house for about four years now.

"My wife and I enjoy it and it gives our neighbours a treat as well.

One night several of the bulbs from the outdoor display were pinched.

"One set of lights cannot be used any more."

PC Rick O'Shea of Weymouth police said: "We've had a few reports of grinches spoiling Christmas for people by wrecking their decorations.

"Theft and criminal damage are serious offences and we would urge people who witness such crimes to ring us immediately."

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