A string of cars had windscreens and windows smashed, with one having every section of glass put through, in a street repeatedly targeted by vandals and thieves.
At least seven cars were targeted in Terrace Road, Mount Pleasant in the early hours of Monday morning.
But cars were also broken into on adjoining streets, according to a local councillor, including Penlan Crescent, Hillside Crescent and Cwmdonkin Terrace.
And a vehicle was also taken from outside a property in nearby Glanbrydan Avenue during the same evening.
They are just the latest incidents of vandalism aimed at cars parked on the road.
A series of cars were targeted in Terrace Road in February. Then, vehicles on the same stretch of road were hit last May, including one which rolled into another car after being broken into and having its hand brake released.
The owner of one car targeted in the latest attack said: “We were woken up at around 3.45am on Monday morning to loud banging outside.
“We’ve had issues previously with our cars being damaged before - this is the third time in five months. I noticed my car’s boot was open so went down to check and my partner’s car was destroyed, with four windows smashed, a wing mirror smashed and the interior trashed and the mirror ripped down.
“There wasn’t much in there but nothing was taken and the car was left full of glass.
“Like many others, we have had a difficult time during lockdown. We are a young family both on furlough and this is just another unnecessary cost.
“The gang that did this damage did it for fun and pleasure and not for any other purpose”.
Another resident whose car was damaged in one of the previous incidents was once again targeted.
She said: “We are just sick of it. The anxiety, the cost and the time, especially at this incredibly challenging time.
“Myself and neighbours are now going to be without transport for over a week. It is just so miserable and wearing”.
A resident whose car was taken from Glanbrydan Avenue on the same evening added: “The CCTV on our house picked up two men initially at about 2.40am. They were checking car doors and house doors on the street.
“I had left my keys in the locked house front door, and they then spent twenty minutes trying to get the keys. They left at one point and returned with a stick from Brynmill Park opposite and used this with possibly a fishing wire. They seemed to be reeling something in.
“So they got the keys out through the letterbox of the locked door and drove off in the car at 3am.
“It’s a huge inconvenience and we had to change the locks at home, as well as at work because it had work keys on it, and had quite a few items in the car which will be costly to replace.
“Car crime seems to happen every week on Terrace road and the surrounding area and we would ask the council to help in preventing any further damage. Any help would be appreciated including CCTV and more patrolling in the area”.
The scene after previous vandalism in Mount Pleasant:
Uplands councillor Peter May said he and fellow councillor Irene Mann would be spending some of their community budgets, which are allocated to each elected ward representative to spend on projects to benefit their communities, to funding CCTV cameras in Terrace Road.
He added: “Some of these cars whose windows were smashed have brick dust on them, so it appears they were really heavy blows delivered with force.
“There were five on Terrace Road, and a further two on the wooded lane that leads to Penlan Crescent.
“The cars were just trashed, but they appear to have gone further down to Hillside Crescent and Cwmdonkin Terrace, where they were trying to break into vehicles.
“It is a hugely frustrating experience for innocent car owners, and I’d urge anyone who was targeted to report the damage to police.
“So myself and councillor Mann will be spending money to fund some cameras on CCTV, as prevention is better than cure.
“We will be expediting it as quickly as possible”.
South Wales Police said it had received a number of reports over the last few weeks of cars being broken into or damaged in the Mount Pleasant area.
Sergeant Lynne Bowen said: “We are aware that thieves have been targeting this area and we have increased both uniform and plain clothes patrols.
“I would urge car owners to remove all valuables from their vehicles and ensure they are secure when leaving them unattended.”
If anyone has any information or CCTV regarding these incidents they should call 101.
