A COMMUNITY has blasted the 'mindless and dangerous' actions of a group which threw objects from a bridge over a key Weymouth road, causing damage to at least two vehicles.
Police officers received a call at 10.28pm on Thursday about three teenagers throwing items from the Littlemoor Road bridge onto the A354 Weymouth Relief Road, between the Jurassic Roundabout and Veasta Roundabout. Two further incidents of the same nature were then reported the same night.
One vehicle sustained damage to its headlights as a result. Two further reports were made to police about objects being thrown at cars travelling through the area.
Weymouth Police believe that at least two vehicles have been damaged.
Police officers searched the area and found eggs and bottles on the road, and have launched an investigation to find those responsible.
Residents in the area were left stunned by the incident, with some calling it 'dangerous and foolish behaviour'.
Ann Weaving, a councillor at Weymouth Town Council, was alarmed by the incidents and was thankful that no one was seriously hurt.
She said: “It is mindless and dangerous.
“Some parents do not know what their children are doing sometimes. It can be difficult but even so, they should know that these things are wrong.
“In other areas, this has in the past caused terrible accidents and even deaths.”
Councillor Weaving, who carries out community work in the area, said she will start patrolling the area at night in a bid to prevent such incidents happening again.
As she is on the community of Top Club in the area, she explains that she speaks to children and ensures they are keeping out of trouble.
She also is concerned about the impact of community centres and children services being shut due to coronavirus restrictions on the wellbeing of children and what they get up to.
“I keep in touch with members of the club and children to see what the are doing and asking that they are all OK”, she said.
“Myself and Louie O'Leary, another councillor in the area, will walk and patrol the area together.”
Councillor Tia Roos was left shocked by the incident and said she hoped those who threw the objects onto the road are caught.
She said: “They do not seem to think about what they are doing and how lives could be at risk.
“If someone is driving their car and they are hit by something on their window, it could cause a crash or seriously injure them.
“Thank goodness everyone is OK. Hopefully the police will find out who did this, and I hope they do not do it again.”
She believed this sort of anti-social behaviour is what happens when there is a lack of children’s support or community centres open for younger people.
Mrs Roos said: “A lot of kids seem to be very restless and I am very surprised that children aren’t being supported during this pandemic.
“A lot of youth clubs and communities support centres in Weymouth have all shut down but some kids are bored, fed up and they do negative things like this.
“It is an example of what happens when we do not have youth support centres or anything for children to do. I feel sorry for the drivers and this is a serious thing to do.”
A spokesman for Dorset Police said that investigations into the incident are ongoing as they search for the offenders.
He said: “We received a report at 10.28pm on Thursday, December 3 of three teenagers throwing items onto the road from a footpath over the A354 Weymouth Relief Road between the Jurassic Roundabout and the Veasta Roundabout.
“It was reported that damage had been caused to a car’s headlights.
“Further reports were received at 10.46pm and 11.15pm of items being thrown at cars in the area.
“Officers attended and carried out a search of the area but the offenders were not located. Eggs and bottles were located on the road at the scene.”
Anyone who saw what happened, was hit by the objects or has any information is advised to contact Dorset Police via 101 and quote occurrence 55200182272.
- Did you see what happened? Was your vehicle hit? Get in touch at michael.taylor@newsquest.co.uk
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