CHRISTMAS celebrations were cut short for a motorist after his classic car was stolen and pushed into a pond.

Essex Police were called to the Doctor’s Pond in The Causeway at 8.45pm last Tuesday (December 25) following reports the red Fiat 126 was submerged in four feet of water. No one was inside the vehicle at the time. Essex Fire and Rescue crews were also called in just before 9pm to assist with its recovery.

Car owner David Lear said: “The car was parked in North Street. Somebody forced the door open, broke the steering and pushed it down the hill into the pond.

“The car was not on the road, I had it registered as SORN, and it had no insurance so I had to pay �420 to have it removed from the pond - I was quite surprised to find out that is how it works. I’ve had to fork out money for someone else’s actions.”

The incident is just one in a spree of criminal damage in Dunmow town centre in recent weeks. Buses, shop fronts, house windows and up to 15 vehicles have been targeted, each occurring at about the same time of night. Police are concentrating patrols in a bid to catch the vandals.

Overnight December 23-24, four windows were hit at Dolly Rocker Kids children’s designer clothing shop in North Street, causing �300 damage. Close by and at about the same time, the windows of a Ford Galaxy were smashed while a bus window was also hit.

Then, on Christmas Day night, seven cars parked in The Causeway all suffered criminal damaged, with either the front or rear screen smashed. The total cost of the damage is estimated to be about �1,500.

Small red granite stones have been found at the scene of the crimes and officers believe a catapult may have been involved.

Officers are linking the incidents and are keen to speak to the driver of a dark red hatchback car, possibly a Vauxhall Corsa, in connection with the incidents.

Sgt Martin Richards of the Uttlesford neighbourhood policing team called on residents for help.

“We really do need the public’s help. Criminal damage is unacceptable at any time, but it has been particularly difficult for these car and house owners over the Christmas period.

“There has been quite a lot of damage caused . At least 15 cars have been targeted, as well as three buses and two properties in the last six weeks or so.

“It could the same people involved in each case. We are eager for information about the dark red hatchback car, which has a loud exhaust, or would like to hear from anyone who has had small red granite stones removed from their property.”

Anyone with information about these crimes should contact Dunmow via the non-emergency number 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.