This Is Guernsey

By Anna Brehaut

Vandals have struck twice in two weeks at the Loveridge family home in St Martin’s, smashing two double-glazed windows with pellets from an air or BB gun. (Pictures by Steve Sarre, 0695304)

JOHN LOVERIDGE fears for the safety of his family and five-month-old grandchild after his home became a target of vandalism.

Mr Loveridge, who lives at Camps du Moulin, St Martin’s, has had the front windows of his bungalow shot at twice during a two-week period, including on Christmas Day.

A lot of damage has been caused. It is believed that whoever did it used a type of air or ball bearing gun to shoot at the double-glazed windows.

‘It is very upsetting that somebody could do such a thing. I feel unsafe in my own home,’ said Mr Loveridge.

‘It is a good job that we have double-glazing because if we did not, the whole window would have shattered, which could have seriously injured my daughter or grandchild.

‘I wonder if they knew there was a five-month-old child sleeping in the front?’

The first attack happened on 11 December and the most recent was on Christmas Day.

‘We were celebrating our grandson’s first Christmas and there is no reason why anybody should do this,’ said Mr Loveridge.

‘What were they doing out on Christmas evening anyway?’

Mr Loveridge said on the first occasion no one in the house had heard anything, but his wife had heard a car stop outside on Christmas Day.

‘It’s very worrying that it could happen again. These people have to be found because it can’t go on.’

Mr Loveridge’s wife, Jackie, said that she has not been able to sleep since the most recent incident.

‘We have been here for about 40 years and we have never had any problems,’ she said. ‘It is very worrying and very annoying.’

The couple did not know that certain types of guns, such as airguns, did not have to be licensed.

‘In my opinion they should be licensed,’ said Mr Loveridge.

‘People shouldn’t be allowed to just purchase one and carry it around with them.

‘When you see the damage they cause to the window, you wonder what they could do to a person.’

A police spokesman said that an investigation was ongoing and the force was unable to release any more details.

Article posted on 30th December, 2008 - 11.30am