A MONTH after vandals smashed a new bus shelter in Stratton St Margaret, police are no nearer catching the culprits.

On April 10 the Advertiser reported how, in a moment of deliberate destruction, youths picked up stones from the pavement and brazenly threw them at the shelter opposite Whilestone Way, before running off.

The whole episode was caught on film by Oxford Road resident Pam Ball, who was so fed up after a firebomb attack on her car some years ago she installed a camera to monitor activity outside her house.

Mrs Ball, 59, said: "It doesn't really surprise me that the authorities haven't caught anyone yet. It seems that nobody really cares these days.

"The police just haven't got the time to deal with so-called petty vandalism they're more interested in larger crimes, but this sort of vandalism moves on to bigger things.

"I shouldn't be afraid to open my mouth, but I am it's a sad world we live in."

Swindon police spokeswoman, Alvina Kumar, said: "Officers viewed the CCTV recordings, however, the definition of the picture was such that the suspects could not be identified.

"Despite numerous enquiries and an appeal for witnesses the vandals have not been apprehended.

"In the majority of cases a report of damage is not sufficient for the officers to take investigative action.

"We rely on witnesses for information, no matter how small, because evidence is of paramount importance and enables the prosecution of those who break the law."

Acts of vandalism leave Swindon taxpayers with an annual bill of £1 million.

Swindon police have dealt with some 2,768 reports of deliberate damage to property in the past 12 months. Of these 767 were related to homes, 609 to buildings and 1,393 were reports of damage to cars.

Swindon Council spokesman Adrian Ruck added: "We estimate that vandalism everything from clearing up broken glass to damaged bus shelters and car parks costs the taxpayer around £1 million each year.

"This is a huge waste of public money and we urge people who witness vandalism to report it to the police as soon as possible."