Search on for vandals using ball bearings to smash windows

Community claims problem due to lack of police on streets

The hunt is on for vandals who caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to property in Burntisland.

Police say they have responded to several reports of windows being cracked or smashed in and around the town centre in recent weeks, with the culprits apparently using some kind of air gun or slingshot to fire small metal ball bearings at buildings and vehicles.

Four separate reports have come from residents on Somerville Street alone in recent weeks, while property on the High Street has also been vandalised in a similar fashion this summer.

A spokesman for Police Scotland said: “If you have any information as to who could be responsible for firing these ball bearings in Burntisland, please call 101 and ask for a message to be left for the Burntisland community police officers, or alternatively contact Crimestoppers.”

Somerville Street has also been the scene of car vandalism, with a resident suggesting vehicles have been scratched with keys in recent weeks.

Alex Macdonald, chairman of the town’s community council, said: “We have historically had spates of antisocial behaviour and it had been good recently.”

He added: “We have excellent community police officers but just not enough of them. That’s not something they can control obviously.”

Conservative councillor Kathleen Leslie, who represents Burntisland, Kinghorn and Western Kirkcaldy, requested a Domehawk security camera be installed in the town centre but this was turned down by police.

She hopes the latest reports might “strengthen” the case.

She said: “What the town is really needing is more of a police presence and people need to feel comfortable when they report incidents.

“It’s a lack of community policing and I just don’t think there’s enough police to go around

“I’m not blaming the police though because it is all to do with resources and they can only do things with what they have but there seems to be quite a number of these types of incidents coming up at the community council meetings, so it’s certainly something that needs to be addressed.”

“We have excellent community police officers but just not enough of them. ALEX MACDONALD, BURNTISLAND COMMUNITY COUNCIL