ABBOTSBURY residents are calling for action after a recent crimewave in which car windows were smashed and a BB gun was fired at a shop window.

Dorset Police said that since the beginning of November there have been four reported incidents of car vandalism in the village, as well as another car window smashed on Market Street last month.

Now, angry residents are calling for something to be done following the incidents and say they are forced to park their cars elsewhere.

On November 13, police also received a report of a BB gun pellet fired through a shop window on Market Street.

The incident took place sometime overnight between 8pm on November 12 and 7am the following day and left a hole the size of a 10p piece in the shop window.

Stephen Bellenie, owner of The Bellenie’s Bakehouse on Market Street, said his store was the shop involved.

He added: “There have been so many car windows maliciously smashed over the last month and residents here are getting fed up.

“A BB gun pellet was also fired through my shop window at arms height and could have really hurt someone.

“I’ve heard of seven cars with their windows smashed; I would say Abbotsbury is gaining a reputation of being a high crime rate area.”

Abbotsbury resident Richard Dalley, 22, had his car window smashed on Rodden Row on November 13.

He added that he heard ‘three bb gunshots’ on November 12 before waking up the next day to find the damage.

Mr Dalley said: “There’s no excuse for this mindless behaviour; I can easily get my car window fixed but something needs to be done.

“Residents in Rodden Row are now constantly concerned about their cars and have resorted to parking them elsewhere.

“I’m not sure what can be done, but we can’t carry on like this.”

Coun David Stevens, Chesil Bank parish councillor for Abbotsbury, said: “I struggle to see what can be done and incidents like these are difficult to prevent, especially as they’re all happening in night time hours.

“I don’t think that anyone from the local area is carrying out these incidents, but they are not what you want to see on a regular basis.”

Inspector Steve Marsh of Dorset Police said: “We are aware of a number of incidents of criminal damage to cars and property that have occurred in Abbotsbury in the last few weeks. “Damage is being caused by someone using a BB gun, or similar item, firing metal or plastic pellets.

“This highly dangerous and irresponsible behaviour and is causing a large amount of distress and expense to victims.

“Patrols in the area are being stepped up in response to these crimes and the increasing concerns of the residents.”