Carmarthen car dealership counts £20,000 cost of vehicles damaged in attack

VANDLAS have caused around £20,000 worth of damage by attacking 15 cars at a dealership in Carmarthen.

Rhys Lloyd, owner of GWD Motors in Pensarn, says he believes his business was deliberately targeted at the weekend.

The vehicles on the forecourt were badly scratched with damage to doors and bonnets.

Mr Lloyd said: "Whoever did this went around to nearly every car we have on show and keyed them.

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"I think it was a planned attack, it wasn't random to go around all the cars like that.

"Looking at the damage it is going to cost probably between £15,000 and £20,000 to get the cars fixed.

"The cars are second hand mostly but even then they are not that old, so the costs will add up.

"They will have to go back to the suppliers."

Mr Lloyd believes the attack may have occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

He added: "Myself and staff came in on Sunday morning and the scratches looked very fresh so it had to have been quite early that the attack happened, probably only a few hours before we arrived.

"Obviously I have insurance but it's going to be a huge cost to us and not the way we wanted to start off the year."

Difficult

He said trading had been difficult enough ahead of and during the Christmas period, adding: "It was quiet before Christmas and still quiet now, but to have most of the sales fleet ruined like this is a massive blow for the business."

Mr Lloyd — who relocated GWD Motors from Johnstown three years ago — added: "I know the police have also been speaking to other car dealers and businesses in the road and going from door to door."

It is the second time GWD Motors has been targeted by criminals.

In early December 2008, at its former Johnstown garage in Heol Salem, thieves stole around £25,000 worth of equipment including a car.

In that incident, a silver Citroen Picasso, two laptop computers, a petty cash tin, a camera and diagnostic equipment was stolen.

Following this weekend's attack Dyfed-Powys Police is reviewing CCTV from Pensarn Road over Saturday night and Sunday morning.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police are investigating an offence of criminal damage caused to vehicles at GWD Motors in Pensarn, Carmarthen, sometime between 5pm on Saturday, 5 January and 11am on Sunday, 6 January.

"If anyone saw anyone acting suspiciously in the vicinity of the damage, or has information which could help with police inquiries, they are asked to contact Carmarthen police."

Please call police using the 101 non-emergency number.