She says . . .

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34046, 9 January 1976, Page 5

She says . . .

On the boot, of our car. the iridescent paintwork that we take so much care of bears a jagged 15cm scratch, through almost to the metal. There’s only one way it could have been done, and that’s with the edge of a coin or a key I’ve not much doubt when and where it was done, either — in the Manchester Street car-park when my husband left the car there one evening recently.

No doubt it’s a fail!', minor thing, just another of the acts of random vandalism that are so common these days, and against which the authorities seem so powerless to protect us. That’s not surprising, because vandals are hard to catch, and even when they are caught I’m inclined to feel they get off too lightly. We know quite a few people who’ve had much worse damage done to their parked cars — aerials snapped oft, panels kicked in. exhausts kicked off. wipers twisted up. and even windows broken. It’s a sick business, and you cannot but feel an angry contempt for the mindless oafs who do this sort of thing I believe that we < an all do something to prevent the senseless damaging of vehicles, signposts. and other property, and that’s by keeping our eyes open, and quickly reporting anything suspicious to the police. There are far too many people about today who just don’t want to get

involved.” but I for one will be only too happy to give evidence against any vandal I ever see at work. You cannot leave any car on any street in the city these davs without the tear of having it damaged by some goon And the more trouble you take to keep your car looking smart, the greater the chance of hav mg it damaged by vandals It’s yet another -case where we all ought to be prepared to “speak up.” as the campaign slogan goes It doesn’t matter whose property’s under attack. If it’s public property, like road signs, then we’re all paying the bill in the long