Family left in shock after car is smashed by gang
JON MACPHERSON
A NURSERY manager has spoken of her shock and terror after a hammerwielding gang trashed her car.
Charmaine Earnshaw, who runs the Toppers Day Nursery in Rishton, said her Citroen Picasso was left ‘unusable’ after the hooligans shattered the windows while it was parked on Haworth Street.
Lancashire Police said four men had earlier smashed open her neighbour’s door using a claw hammer before being challenged by a male occupant inside.
It is believed the gang were trying to find someone who previously lived there.
When the offenders ran out of the house they damaged the windows and windscreen of Charmaine’s Picasso before fleeing the scene.
Charmaine, who has lived on Haworth Street for 15 years with her husband and daughter, said everyone is now scared as ‘you don’t know who is going to run into your house’.
She said: “We are very shocked and can’t believe what’s happened. My car is unusable now.
“The people living on the street came outside and thought it was absolutely ridiculous.
“Why is this happening on our street? I’ve lived here for 15 years and we’ve never had anything like this.
“Everybody is scared and are making sure their doors are locked. You don’t know who is going to run into your house.”
The incident happened at around 9.30pm on Tuesday, January 3.
Charmaine, 50, said: “My husband heard a lot of noise and then the dogs started barking.
“I had just gone to bed and he went outside and saw the car had been smashed.
“I jumped out of bed and came downstairs and saw what happened.
“The car isn’t driveable. There is a big hole in the front window.
“The rear windscreen has gone and so has some of the side windows.
“Apparently there were about four lads in hoodies.
“They ran into a house a few doors down from me and threatened the people in there.
“They then ran outside and retaliated by smashing my car. They must have been very angry for some reason. I don’t know why they have done it. We have borne the brunt of it for no reason.”
Lancashire Police said no arrests have been made and are appealing for witnesses and information.
Call police on 101 quoting crime reference number ED1700137.