Vandals spray graffiti on Age UK ambulance in Leicester causing thousands of pounds damage
Vandals have caused thousands of pounds damage after covering a charity's ambulance in graffiti.
They broke into a secure compound in Yeoman Street, in the city centre, before spraying the Age UK vehicle on Tuesday night.
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The vehicle, which ferries people to Clarence House in the city every day, was so badly covered in graffiti that it could not be used.
Silver paint blotted out nearly all the windows and black tags were also painted on the vehicle.
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Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland chief executive Tony Donovan said the damage was discovered at around 8am yesterday when staff arrived to take the ambulance on its round.
He said: "We will prosecute whoever has done this. It will have a very bad impact on the very vulnerable clients who use the ambulance every day.
"They see it is a lifeline to help them live independent lives. We had to take it off the road and bring in another vehicle from our fleet to take its place.
"We will also have to hire-in a replacement ambulance long-term while the repair work is carried out."
He said during disturbances in Leicester in the summer of 2011, one of its £45,000 mini-buses was badly damaged and clients at the time considered it to be an attack on them.
He said: "This graffiti attack will have a similar affect on those who use the ambulance."
He said the vehicle, which can carry 15 people, is used each day to bring people into the Clarence House day centre for a meal and to take part in activities designed to keep them motivated.
It picks them up from their homes in the morning and delivers them back again at the end of the day.
He added: "If it were not for this link, the people, who are very frail, would likely have to go into communal residential accommodation."
He said the cost to repair the damage was going to be thousands of pounds which would be paid out of funds that should be used to provide services.
He said: "The paint will have to be professionally removed and the vehicle resprayed to remove the black tags. We would urge anyone who saw what happened to contact the police."
A police spokeswoman said the incident in Yeoman Street was reported to them yesterday morning and officers were investigating what happened.
People who saw anything suspicious in the area are asked to contact the police on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Comments
by buschka
Tuesday, November 06 2012, 6:58PM
“I hate mindless vandalism but can't say I've any sypathy for Age UK....Just another BUSINESS operaring under the charity banner. Look at how much these people pay themselves !! You would be SHOCKED. Always a little left at the end of the trough for the old people though so thats ok right ??”
by democrat
Thursday, November 01 2012, 9:59PM
“Sansue
But what if the person who did this is a junkie?
Or has a chaotic life?
Or is from a dysfunctional family?
What do we do then?
Community payback? - Check the court reports in the LM:
Benefits cheats not even punished with having to pay what they stole back.
People driving without insurance - £100 fine + 3 points on a licence that they don't even have.
The list is endless.”
by sansue
Thursday, November 01 2012, 6:19PM
“""I agree Georgy, the sad thing is that even if they get caught they can't be made to clean it up because it might infringe their human rights. A court probably wouldn't even consider graffiti a criminal offence.""
Do you have ANY understanding of any aspect of the law?
What element of the Human Rights Act do you think such a "community payback" punishment would infringe? But of course you have no actual knowledge of Human Rights legislation, you just parrot the very lame belief that you can somehow use "Human Rights" as a get of our jail free card without actually having to quote a specific legal duty.
And sorry, you think that a court doesn't think criminal damage is an offence??!!!! Where on EARTH do you get such a ludicrous belief from? Of course it is!”
by homesickalien
Thursday, November 01 2012, 12:52PM
“I think its a shame these vandals are not putting their talents to better use as artists. If only they could channel this artistic talent and energy in a more positive direction. I really hope they are caught, made to pay for their actions and encouraged to take another course. How much wasted talent is there out there?”
by georgey2011
Thursday, November 01 2012, 12:02PM
“Best thing they could do for now if they cant afford it or get someone to get it off is to buy some large sheets of sticky back vinyl and just cover the affected areas up.cheaper than a respray.”
by joycealice243
Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:48AM
“Well said Georgey! these mindless morons should be made to do the work!!”
by joycealice243
Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:46AM
“I feel sorry for the elderly people as this is a lifeline to them that has been taken away by mindless individuals!
If they made the punishment fit the crime when they catch them, it might deter them a little
The culprits must be so bored with their miserable lives they have to make everyone else unhappy.
I agree that a `tag` is as good as a signature so should halp to catch these morons.”
by mick233
Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:45AM
“I agree Georgy, the sad thing is that even if they get caught they can't be made to clean it up because it might infringe their human rights. A court probably wouldn't even consider graffiti a criminal offence.”
by georgey2011
Thursday, November 01 2012, 10:45AM
“Doesnt need a respray, it will only be aerosol based paint as it has no lacquer on the top and it has been sprayed onto a lacquered surface the graffiti will be removable with a lot of elbow grease and some turps/meth spirit/white spirit/tar and glue remover. Some sods sprayed down the side of some guys car who used to live near me and i removed it for him. It wont damage the paint underneath. you can use a razor blade to scrape paint off the glass it wont scratch it :)”
by Scottmason
Thursday, November 01 2012, 9:19AM
“Hope they catch them, a 'tag' is as good as a signature so there is every chance they will be caught!”