DVLA staff stranded as '40 cars' hit by tyre slasher
VANDALS have slashed tyres on around two dozen cars parked near the DVLA building in Morriston.
Most of the victims are believed to be staff at the driver licensing agency.
One eye witness to the damage said as many as 40 cars had been attacked — police have said they are aware of 17 so far, but they are expecting more victims to come forward.
The slashing left many staff unable to get home after their shifts — and facing repair and recovery bills running into hundreds of pounds.
Police are appealing for anybody with information — especially about a Ford car seen on 10th Avenue, Clase, around the time of the incident — to come forward.
One DVLA worker caught-up in slashing, who did not want his name published for fear of further attacks, said: "We came out of work and every car in the road had its tyres slashed — it was unbelievable.
"Someone had gone along and done two tyres on every car. There must have been 40 cars involved.
"No one could move and people were left stranded, nobody could get home.
"It's going to cost me £100 to get my car fixed. What kind of scum would do this?"
He added: "You can't slash all these tyres in a couple of seconds — it must have taken someone quite a while to do it, and someone must have seen it happening."
Parking has long been a thorny issue in the communities around the DVLA, with complaints about staff leaving their cars on residential streets. The issue was raised again in the Clase Christmas Pact meeting, with concerns about cars blocking driveways and making access difficult.
Similar worries have come up in Llangyfelach Pact meetings. Police are appealing for anybody with information about what happened to come forward. The slashing happened some time on Wednesday.
Acting chief inspector Nigel Whitehouse said: "We are investigating a number of incidents of criminal damage which occurred in the vicinity of the DVLA throughout the day, when more than 17 vehicles had tyres slashed.
"I am particularly interested in identifying a black vehicle — possibly a Ford Focus or Fiesta — which was in the area during the day.
"I am appealing to anyone who is able to identify the black vehicle, or anybody with any relevant information about what happened, to come forward."
Call South Wales Police on 101, or Crimestoppers Cymru on 0800 555111.
jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk







38 Comments
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by Jay, Swansea
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 9:18AM
“I don't work in the DVLA but I do empathise with the staff there. We've had similar problems where I work - VERY limited parking spaces on site and allocated on a first come first serve basis. Usually I manage to get a space but occasionally I'm forced to park in a residential street near my work as there is literally nowhere else. Catching a bus just isn't a feasible option since both my wife and I work and need to drop the little 'un to the childminder in the morning before work then drop my wife to work. Bus-ing it is simply too time consuming and costly.
Unfortunately some of my colleagues have been on the receiving end of some knuckle head that smashed their windows for daring to park their fully taxed, insured and MOT'd cars on the public highway which just happened to be outside their homes for a few hours. What these drongos causing the damage fail to grasp is these people spend thousands of pounds a year to keep their vehicles on the road. They also pay the same taxes toward the upkeep of the roads as those residents do so they have every right to park wherever they want (provided it¿s not illegal).”
by klee clase, clase swansea
Monday, February 08 2010, 9:03PM
“well i am really sorry for what has happend to your cars and i fully understand that you have to park somewhere but i have actually walked in to the dvla with a number plate of the two cars blocking my drive and i was told there was nothing they could do i would have to wait untill the people had finished work 3 hours i waited forn them to come when they did and i asked them if they could park further down where there is no drive to block i was shouted at and the same two cars blocked my drive every day for two weeks its not worth asking them it didnt help me”
by K Price, Swansea
Monday, February 08 2010, 3:42PM
“I have observed on a daily basis whilst driving through Clase how many driveways of houses are vacant. Do these residents know how much they could make if they 'hired' their drives out to people working nearby? A fiver a week soon adds up at the end of the year! Just a suggestion!”
by D Dickinson, Pontlliw
Monday, February 08 2010, 3:38PM
“Not only should this lunatic be caught for criminal damage, but this lunatic should be caugh ASAP for carrying a lethal weapon. As this person is obviously brain dead, who knows what damage could be done to human life! If I were the locals and knew who this person was, I was inform the police before some innocent person is harmed.”
by duckin'n'divin, in th tawe
Monday, February 08 2010, 12:24PM
“brains swansea
if u got so many brains then why ar you talking to a duck!”
by Achmeds, Uncle
Monday, February 08 2010, 7:24AM
“The danger here is if anyone is innocently visiting someone they know either for private reasons or for having to visit while performing their work duties. If the car is seen not to being owned by a local resident their car could be targetted and have damage made to it. Were all the cars parked illegaly or obstructing driveways etc . What the person doesnt also realise is that a car could have been parked somewhere to help someone ie, a shopping trip, hospital appointment. This was just wantan vandalism .If I worked in the DVLA I for one would prefer to park elsewhere than risk my car parked where there is now a known risk of it being got at .”
by dai evans, swansea
Sunday, February 07 2010, 9:14PM
“Honest comments from Ray Welsby again--Why did the voters of this area let themselves and Ray down by not voting him in for council. Where are the comments from the present serving councillors, can't be bothered, with the attitude we have another two years to serve on council,"it is to early to come out of hibernation yet".”
by Brains, Swansea
Sunday, February 07 2010, 11:24AM
“duckin'ndivin in th tawe, you've not got much 'upstairs' have you?”
by duckin'ndivin, in th tawe
Sunday, February 07 2010, 11:19AM
“tarquin tawe
it may be a non starter of a story to you"idiot"but you want to ask the people who had their tyres done if its a non goer!
its you that are mental!”
by Tarquin Tawe, Swansea
Sunday, February 07 2010, 10:44AM
“Hang on, the EP puts half a story in, it happended near the DVLA and one DVLA worker has come forwrd.
Point of fact, its Clase, it is the the worst part of Morriston, and quite high up on one of the most problematic areas of swansea for crime and disorder.
I am no CSI, but me thinks some person with mental problems (there are a few up there) has gone a little funny and stabbed the tyres of random cars!
Bit of an EP non story, parking is an issue everywhere, but the DVLA is one of the largest employers in the area, so wise up. If they moved somewhere else you wouldnt be moaning about parking you wouldnt have a job!”