28536VANDALS have caused up to £20,000 of damage after going on the rampage in a forklift truck on a Melksham building site.
Police were called to the new Westinghouse Brakes factory, at the Bowerhill Industrial Estate, on Sunday afternoon after reports youths had broken in to the site.
PC Steve McGlynn, of Melksham police, said: "A number of people, believed to be youths, decided to mess around with the plant equipment. They have made quite a mess of it."
The vandals drove a forklift truck into temporary office buildings, puncturing one and ripping the side away from another.
There have been problems with youngsters getting into the site since work started on the new £10m factory in March.
PC McGlynn said: "They have had a fair bit of trouble there in the past. They have tried their best to secure the site but whatever they do people get through.
"It is quite an isolated area so the people who are causing this damage keep getting in."
Police have warned youngsters that, as well as causing thousands of pounds worth of damage, they are also putting themselves in danger by going on to a building site.
"They are driving around with these forklift trucks and platform raising equipment, they have nearly toppled one over. It is very dangerous."
Site contractors Mowlem Civil Engineering have increased security at the site to try and tackle the problem.
A spokesman for the firm said: "We have addressed the matter and put security measures in place in an effort to ensure that it won't happen again."
The new multi-million pound factory, due to be opened in March next year, covers 6.2 acres and will house over 300 employees.
Westinghouse Brakes is moving to Melksham from its current site at Langley Park, Chippenham, where the new factory will provide more modern surroundings.
Police were called to the site at 1.25pm on Sunday afternoon after an alarm was activated in the temporary buildings.
One youth was seen running away from the site but a search of the surrounding area failed to find him.
He is described as a white male, aged about 16, 5ft 8in, wearing a light blue t-shirt and blue shorts.
Police believe more than one person was involved in the incident.
Anyone with any information about the incident can contact Melksham police on (01225) 763101.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article