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Stone yobs attack 10 buses in five days
YOBS have put passengers at risk by repeatedly hurling stones at buses on a Sheffield street.
Ten buses were targeted on Halifax Road at Wadsley Bridge in just five days – with yobs smashing windows on the vehicles.
Bus operator First said it is just luck nobody had been hurt and warned if the attacks do not stop the company could withdraw services.
Managing director Brandon Jones said pulling out of an area would be a "last resort" and was confident the culprits would be caught. But he warned pulling out of the area was "an option" if the problem was not resolved.
He said the firm was working with police to catch the vandals and said 'trojan buses' have been sent along problem routes in the past with plainclothes officers on board ready to jump off when missiles were thrown.
Mr Jones said: "We have had seven vehicles attacked in three days – service numbers 78 and 53, travelling along Halifax Road at Wadsley Bridge.
"Thankfully there have been no reported injuries either to our driving staff or passengers but clearly this could have been a lot worse.
"These incidents tend to be fairly isolated but from time to time we do get groups of incidents in a hotspot and we work with the police.
"Those doing this need to be aware of the potential serious consequences of their actions in terms of the safety of people.
"Every time they damage a bus it has to be taken out of service for repairs, causing an inconvenience for people in their own community.
"We take the safety of our drivers and customers extremely seriously and will do all we can to stop these attacks, including the prosecution of individuals."
Vandalism to buses run by First, which operates in Sheffield, Rotherham and Doncaster, costs more than 500,000 a year in repairs, labour and having vehicles off the road.
Acting Inspector Alun Oliver, from Ecclesfield Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: "We are aware of a number of incidents, which have resulted in criminal damage being caused to buses over the past couple of weeks in the Southey Green area of the city.
"We are working closely with the bus company and we have operations planned for the near future."
- Anyone with information should call 0114 296 4854 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North east
