POLICE have launched an investigation after dozens of car tyres were slashed or punctured in a Suffolk housing estate.

All of the incidents happened on Friday or Saturday night in Bury St Edmunds.

Police took a great many calls from angry car owners reporting their vehicles damaged in St Olaves Road, Clay Road, Hunter Road, Parkington Walk and Beard Road.

In total, 10 cars were affected during the vandalism spree and more than 30 tyres slashed or punctured.

The cars affected were mostly parked in the street rather than in driveways.

Some vehicles had just one tyre damaged while others had two, three or all four slashed.

A police spokeswoman yesterday said: “This reckless vandalism has caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage and inconvenience for the owners of the vehicles.

“We would like to hear from anybody in these areas who saw or heard anything suspicious on this night.”

She said this was the worst incident – in terms of vehicles affected – of tyre slashing reported in recent months.

She added vandalism cases on this scale were also very rare.

She said there was nothing to suggest there was anything personal in the damage caused and said the person responsible appeared to have followed a circuitous route slashing one tyre on one vehicle and up to four on another.

“Clearly for the people affected there’s the cost of having tyres changed and the big inconvenience it causes.”

Howard estate resident Susanne Game, who is also chairman of the Howard Estate Association of Residents and Tenants, said the spree would have caused distress and uneccessary cost to the victims.

She said: “It is a bit frightening and it does make you weary when things like this happen.”

She said many residents in the area were aware of what had happened, adding that community vigilance would be heightened.

Police believe the spate of vandalism in the Howard estate at the weekend was connected with the theft of a number plate from a silver Citroen C4 parked on a driveway in Clay Road.

Anybody who saw suspicious activity in the area or who has any information about what happened should call Pc Robert Farrow on 01284 774100 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.