POLICE in Blackbird Leys are hunting down the vandals behind a recent spate of car attacks on the Oxford estate.

More than 30 parked cars have had their windows smashed or mirrors broken since October.

Officers say the damage has cost thousands of pounds.

Sgt Rob Axe from the Blackbird and Greater Leys neighbourhood team said: “These offences have predominantly involved wing mirrors being broken off, but also damage to windscreen wipers, windows and aerials.

“These mindless attacks on people’s property are taken very seriously by the police, and we are doing everything we can to find the offenders and bring them to justice.”

The majority of the 31 incidents have taken place in Field Avenue, Knights Road, Pegasus Road, Sorrell Road and around the Kassam Stadium.

A smaller number have taken place on other roads around the estate.

Sgt Axe said that although the individual crimes didn’t sound serious, the cost of the damage was high to affected motorists.

He added: “Yet again it is a very small minority of people who are causing inconvenience and upset to residents and other members of the public.

“The cost of this type of antisocial behaviour often runs into hundreds of pounds, and vehicle owners have to then spend time and effort in sourcing replacements.”

It is believed the damage could have been caused by youths on bikes.

Tom Jones, 25, from Wheatley, had visited the Vue Cinema at the Ozone centre when he returned to find his BMW had been vandalised.

He said: “When I got back to the car, I saw the mirror had fallen off. Initially I thought another car had knocked into it.

“Then I found out that people had been seen around my car at the time. I heard other cars had been vandalised too.

“It cost me £215 and took three weeks to repair the mirror because it had to be spray-painted. It was so frustrating.”

He added: “I’m just angry that someone wanted to do that to my car. It was very annoying and cost me a lot of time and money. I’ll think twice before visiting the cinema there again.”

Anyone with information can contact the Blackbird and Greater Leys Neighbourhood Team on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.