Gangs of yobs have been causing misery for shoppers and retailers at a retail park.
A neighbourhood beat newsletter said groups of up to 45 youths have smashed windows, set fires, turned off escalators resulting in people falling over, and used bicycles “as weapons”.
Problems are focused on Trident Park, Runcorn which is home to a mix of shops, takeaways, a play centre and cinema, next door to Shopping City.
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Officers in the area reported the situation has become so dire, from next year buses will no longer serve the Trident bus stop after 7pm.
The area around the Trident bus stop was recently defaced with graffiti described by police as “somewhat weird and perverse”, but which has since been washed off.
Neighbourhood officers said issues have not been confined to the retail park, but with windows smashed at The Glen, Dorset Gardens supported accommodation and KFC.
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Cineworld has also been hit.
Fourteen incidents of criminal damage worth “thousands of pounds” were reported in November, and Halton Lea ward police said services and resources are “stretched”.
The newsletter, issued by PC Simon Gibson and Police Community Support Officer Christine Hogan, of Cheshire Police, said: “Thousands of pounds of damage caused around the area, not to mention the distress caused by the victims of these crimes.
“Please be mindful not to let children take out cigarette lighters or matches.
“Gangs of up to 45 youths have caused so much of a nuisance the Trident bus stop will soon be closing after 7pm come the New Year.
“Children constantly use the area as a playground, turning off (escalators), sometimes when people are on them causing them to fall.
“Bikes are then used as weapons around the area causing injury and distress to the public, staff and security.
“CCTV enquiries are ongoing.”
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