DRUNKEN vandals went on the rampage smashing off wing mirrors and stealing 38 car aerials.

Residents heard bangs in the middle of the night and looked outside to see youths hitting car after car parked in the streets of Westham in Wey-mouth.

One man jumped in his car to follow them down the road but police were quickly on the scene and have arrested three 16-year-olds from the town.

Officers have also recovered the 38 car aerials.

May Beeston, 58, said she saw one of her neighbours follow the vandals down Franklin Road where she lives.

She said: “It’s totally out of order.

“A bang woke me up and I looked out the window and saw three lads and they were just walking along knocking the mirrors off with their hands.

“They couldn’t walk straight as they were drunk but I don’t think they were older than 16.

“My next door neighbours had their wing mirror ripped off so it was hanging by a wire.”

The haul of car aerials appear to have been screwed off and not snapped so they will be displayed at Weymouth Police station tomorrow evening from 5pm for owners to regain them.

Resident Ian Gillard, 68, said his car was spared.

He said: “Our neighbours saw a group of youths kicking wing mirrors off.

“Why do they do it?

“What do they get out of it?”

The cars were targeted in Franklin Road, Longcroft Road and Pottery Lane just before midnight on Saturday night.

Pottery Lane resident Sandra Scott urged victims not to assume the culprits came from the Foyer where troubled and vulnerable youths are housed on the corner of Pottery Lane and Newstead Road.

“It could well have been people passing through from town,” the 57-year-old said.

“People point the finger at the Foyer but we’ve not had any trouble from anyone there in a long time.”

PC Julian Dingle said “a big thank you” to residents for informing the police so quickly.

He said: “As there are so many cars involved this had a wide effect on a large community and without their assistance we would not have been able to locate and arrest the suspects.

The arrested trio have not been charged and police are appealing for any victims or witnesses to call them on 101.