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Chronicle Live
Chronicle Live
National
Ian Johnson

'Little rats' kicking off wing mirrors and hurling golf balls around Gateshead estate

"Little rats" have been blamed for causing misery on a Gateshead housing estate.

Yobs have reportedly smashed glass, hurled golf balls and started fires around St James' Village.

"One person had their wing mirror kicked off. They got it replaced, then it was kicked off again straight away," said one resident.

Northumbria Police says while it has had reports, there's been nothing out of the ordinary.

But it is feared much of the mischief isn't being reported, and another resident added: "They are little rats.

"There's smashed glass on the path down to Asda, and someone will then have to pick it up.

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"And someone posted on Facebook that there had been five wing mirrors knocked off in two weeks.

"And when it happened twice to that one person, that's £60 or £70 each time - it isn't fair."

Among the incidents locals claim have been caused by group of teenagers include a pair of fires on a nearby field.

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And one local told ChronicleLive they had golf balls "launched off" them as they were unloading their car.

Northumbria Police said their had been a handful of reports over the trouble.

But Sergeant Paul Cook, of the Gateshead East Neighbourhood Policing Team, urged anybody who comes across it to report it.

St James village in Gateshead (Newcastle Chronicle)

“Every week we sit down with partners and review every incident of anti-social behaviour in Gateshead before deciding on what tactics to deploy to identify offenders and ensure residents in the area feel safe," he said.

"That could be through targeted patrols, covert officers being deployed or through the use of civil legislation including dispersal notices.

"Every report to police helps us build a bigger picture of anti-social behaviour in our communities and helps ensure officers are sent to the areas that need them most.

"You are our eyes and ears on the ground so if you are experiencing disorder please give us a call or report it on our website."

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