Lump of concrete thrown from passing car

A RINGWOOD man was injured when vandals threw a lump of concrete through the back window of his car, in one of a spate of attacks in the New Forest.

Police have described the recent run of drive-by vandalism acts on cars as "totally and utterly mindless".

So far, a total of 11 cars have been damaged in incidents, which happened in the Blissford Hill, Frogham and Hyde areas.

Windscreens have been smashed and paintwork scratched, and missiles have been thrown at parked cars.

The incidents began overnight on Saturday August 14 and continued throughout the week until Wednesday, when police arrested a man following the attack on a car in Moyles Court, which injured the Ringwood man.

In this incident, the man was sitting in the front of the car when a lump of concrete was thrown at it.

The concrete went through the back window and struck him on the shoulder and then hit the front windscreen.

Sergeant Tim Adams, of Fordingbridge police, who is linking the incidents, said: "It must have been thrown at some velocity to have gone on to hit the front windscreen.

"The man was very lucky not to have been hit in the back of the head."

He pointed out that it was possible to see the route the vandals had taken along a road by following the trail of destruction left behind.

Sgt Adams said the incidents were occurring in pleasant parts of the Forest

"These are areas that traditionally escape the problems that we get elsewhere," he said.

"One man is helping police with enquiries and those enquiries are likely to lead to further arrests."

Anyone with information or who has had their car damaged and has not reported it is asked to contact WPC Helen Roberts, at Fordingbridge police station, on 0845 045 4545.