Update: appeal following further incidents

Update 3.27pm, 20 January 

We are appealing for people to come forward following anecdotal reports that properties in the Dunstall Walk area of Gainsborough have been subjected to criminal damage this week. 

We received several reports of incidents in Dunstall Walk on 11 January, but nothing further since that date. Comments on a community social media site indicate that the area has been targeted this week, and we would like to encourage any victims or witnesses to make contact with us so we can add this to our investigation.

We are unable to take reports from social media, and need to have an incident reported to us directly.

We believe it may be connected to other incidents of criminal damage where windows, doors and in one case, a delivery driver van, have been shot at with a suspected BB gun or a sling shot. 

We are keeping an open mind about these incidents, but we are considering that they are linked.

The first believed incident took place at some point between the evening of 10 January and the following afternoon at the Hillcrest Gardens development site on Middlefield lane. Since then there have been 14 further reports of similar incidents in Brocklesby Close, Middlefield Lane, Tealby Close, Guy Gibson Court, Park Springs Road, Alec Rose Close, Pilham Court, Heapham Road, Pilgrims Way, Keelby Close and Elsham Walk.

There have also been two reports of suspected arson at Pingle Hill and Queensway on 16 January, which we suspect may be connected.

All of these incidents are currently being investigated by officers for the local Neighbourhood Policing Team and CID. We are carrying out additional patrols in the area and following a number of lines of enquiries including house to house enquiries, viewing CCTV and doorbell footage, combing our own intelligence, and speaking with witnesses and victims.  

Inspector Mike Head from the Gainsborough Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “We recognise how concerning and frightening this is for residents, and we have made it a priority for the local teams to investigate and find those responsible.

"A huge amount of work to investigate is going on behind the scenes, so the public won’t always see the actions we’re taking on their behalf, but we are taking all of the reports received so far very seriously and have been following a number of lines of enquiry. We hope that the increased patrols in the area go some way to offering reassurance, and we would encourage anyone who has concerns to speak with an officer.  

"Our plea is for anyone who has not yet come forward, either to report an incident or as a witness, to do so as soon as possible. Without those reports, our intelligence into the broader picture is lessened. We believe there will be people in the community who have credible information we can make use of, and together we can hopefully find those responsible.”

 

Original release 12 January

Officers are in Gainsborough today (12 January) investigating a series of very concerning reports about windows being damaged with what is believed to be an air rifle in the Park Springs Road area.

In one incident, the windscreen of a delivery driver’s van was shattered while he was in the vehicle. Thankfully, he was not injured, but the recklessness of these crimes could have led to a very different outcome.

All six reports were received in the space of just over an hour yesterday evening (11 January).

Specially trained officers and the police drone were deployed to search the area and officers carried out patrols overnight. They remain on patrol today.  

The incidents were:

• 6.25pm, a window at a property in Guy Gibson Close was damaged
• 6.35pm, a window at a property in Brocklesby Close was damaged
• 6.45pm, a window at a property in Fernwood Mews was damaged
• 6.55pm, a door at a property in Dunstall Walk was damaged
• 6.55pm, the window on a delivery van parked in Richardson Rise was damaged
• 7.36pm, a window at a property in Fernwood Mews was damaged

We are appealing for witnesses to any of the incidents to come forward. We are particularly keen to view any dashcam or doorbell footage which may have captured those responsible.

We are also appealing for help from the community to help us find the people responsible for these incidents. Someone will have information about the people behind this, and we would ask that they come forward. This can be done anonymously via Crimestoppers.

If you have information which can help, please contact the Gainsborough NPT on [email protected] or call 101, quoting incident 263 of 11 January.