Tyre-slashers target vehicles by airport

More car tyres have been slashed in streets around Wellington Airport as the long-running parking feud continues.

Police have received 10 reports of damage to vehicles parked near Wellington Airport in Kauri St, Miramar, in 10 days, with cars there becoming the frequent targets of vandalism over the past three months.

They sent a letter to residents on Monday, confirming they were investigating a ‘‘high number’’ of incidents of tyreslashing and puncturing in the street.

But residents are blaming Wellington City Council for failing to take action on the growing parking problem and say it’s unlikely the issue will be solved by Christmas.

The problems on Kauri St have been bubbling away for years, with frustrated residents even placing illegal fences and concrete blocks outside their homes to try to stop people parking for free – often for lengthy periods – in their neighbourhood

Council's Chris Calvi-Freeman said the issue was a "festering sore".

whenever they used the airport.

However, the tyre-slashing is not just impacting airport-goers.

Kauri St resident Howard Rait, recently discovered a hole in one of the tyres on his car when it was parked on the street a week ago. His daughter’s car tyres were punctured in October.

‘‘I have noticed over the last few months there have been sessions [of it], but it is just getting more and more often,’’ Rait said.

The council had failed to consult with the community about the tyre-slashing epidemic, which Rait believed was the work of a local vigilante.

In October, residents reported 25 cases of tyre slashing in or near Kauri St.

Police confirmed they had received 10 reports of ‘‘wilful damage’’ to vehicles on Miramar’s Kauri St between November 26 and December 5.

‘‘In each case, victims have reported that tyres have either been punctured or slashed,’’ a police spokeswoman said.

They were encouraging people report anything suspicious, she said.

Council transport, strategy and operations portfolio leader Chris CalviFreeman said he was ‘‘sympathetic’’ to residents’ concerns about people parking on streets near the airport, adding that the issue was a ‘‘festering sore’’.

Although the council had not made any contact with residents about the tyre-slashing problem, community consultation would be held in late January. He will meet police officers to discuss the matter tomorrow.

Calvi-Freeman said he had also been in talks with Wellington Airport’s management about the problem. He hoped they would ‘‘support the council in any solution we run through with the residents’’. to