Hillsborough Park: Stone lobbed through bus window by teens on bikes 'taking over' Sheffield park
A stone lobbed through the window of a moving bus has sparked an outpouring of anger against a pack of teenagers on bikes who have “taken over“ a Sheffield park.
Passengers on a No 8 First Bus were shocked on Wednesday night (December 16) when a rock crashed through a window.
A video taken by a passenger and circulated online showed how the stone had come from three teenagers on bikes idling in Hillsborough Park - before one of them brazenly fired off another, hitting the bus a second time.
It was the straw that broke the camel’s back for Hillsborough residents, who say it is the just the latest escalation by the gang of three-to-four teens on bikes terrorising the park in recent weeks.
Several residents have contacted The Star to say the past months have been marked by broken car windows, stones lobbed at ducks and dogs, and even two incidents of stones hitting people in the head by children who then ride away.
South Yorkshire Police says it is “aware of reports” and is “increasing patrols.”
One woman told The Star: “You can’t relax in your own house. It’s not a nice feeling.
“Every little sound and you’re up looking out your window wondering if it’s them. There are a few neighbours around here who cycle and every time they come past my husband is up checking who it is.
“On December 7, they threw a stone at our window and my husband went out. He found they had smashed someone’s car window. As he walked he found another, then another, then another. Four in one night.”
She told The Star how her teenage son was in the park on December 8 when he was hit in the head by a stone thrown by “three lads on bikes.” Thankfully, the rock bounced off his headphones.
Several residents reported a neighbour was walking his dog on December 10 when “three lads on bikes” rode past him - before he was struck in the back of the head with a stone and fell to the ground.
One woman said: “We’ve got a group chat and have heard all sorts. It’s escalating to targeting people. Kids’ bikes are being stolen, children don’t want to use the bike ramps or go into the park after dark.”
One resident told The Star how they saw the gang “load up on stones” in the nearby McDonald’s car park before heading to the park.
A community meeting was held by South Yorkshire Police on December 10, promising to step up patrols.
But one woman wrote in to say: “The police are fully aware and are supposed to be taking action to catch these kids but we are now one week on from being given assurances at the Hillsborough Forum meeting last Wednesday and the lads have moved on from smashing parked car windows to attacking pedestrians in the park with stones and public transport.
“This has escalated quickly as we warned the police was going to happen.”
Now, residents have criticised the stone thrown at the moving bus a “dangerous” escalation and want to know what will be done about it.
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said: “We are aware of concerns surrounding reports of antisocial behaviour in the Hillsborough Park area.
“We have an ongoing plan in place to support the community and identify those responsible for incidents of ASB.
“There are increased officer patrols taking place in the area today and in the coming days to provide reassurance and deter further offending.
“Officers are investigating this incident and enquiries, including checking CCTV in the area, are ongoing to identify those responsible.
“If you have any information that could help us in our investigation, please get in touch online or by calling 101, quoting incident number 781 of December 16, 2025.”
Meanwhile, a First Bus spokesperson said: “We can confirm one of our Number 8 buses was damaged on Tuesday evening in Hillsborough.
“A window was broken but neither the passengers nor the bus driver were injured. We condemn such dangerous behaviour and we are working alongside the South Yorkshire Police to investigate this serious, but isolated, incident.”