A mother has spoken of the moment a possible “air rifle” was fired at her car, directly at the ‘child on board’ sign, while she and her two-year-old son and young daughter were inside.
Danielle Sayer said her six-year-old daughter was left “traumatised” by what happened during daylight hours in the car park at Salter Close on the Moreton Hall estate in Bury St Edmunds.
Her three-year-old son, who was two at the time of the incident on July 27, was in his car seat in front of the ‘child on board’ sign on the rear windscreen - leaving her to question whether that was the target. The window shattered, but did not fall through, leaving glass on her son’s seat.
Suffolk police are investigating the criminal damage, which happened at about 10am, and are linking it with a similar incident on July 23 in the same area and also during daylight hours.
Speaking of the impact on her children, Mrs Sayer said: “She was crying. He was probably fine. He just heard a bang. She was definitely traumatised by the whole thing.”
She added: “The first night she wouldn’t sleep in her bed. She could have just been playing up.”
Mrs Sayer said she had parked up momentarily to pick her sister up to go out for the day.
“I was just unlocking the car so she could get in and there was a big bang. I just assumed something had fallen on the back of the car,” she said, adding: “I cannot see what else it could have been if not an air rifle.”
She wants people to be aware of what has happened so they can be vigilant. “It was inconvenient, but we were so lucky,” said Mrs Sayer, who lives in the town.
Moreton Hall councillor Frank Warby wanted to reassure residents if an air weapon had been used it was “unusual” for the estate.
A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said: “The local Safer Neighbourhood Team has been made aware of the incidents and police would like to hear from anyone who may have information about either incident or who may have seen any suspicious activity in the area.”
She said these incidents were not attended by police as they were reported as a damaged rear windscreen by unknown means, with no suspects seen, and no mention or suggestion of an air weapon used. Contact police on 101 quoting crime reference number 37/51729/17.
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