Police hunt Maryport cable slasher

Last updated 19:45, Thursday, 24 July 2008

A spate of attacks which left dozens of Maryport homes without satellite television could be the work of somebody with a grudge against Sky TV, say residents.

Police are now investigating around 40 incidents in the town in which satellite cables were severed.

In the latest attack, on Tuesday morning, the culprit sliced through the satellite TV cables going into 20 homes, leaving TV screens blank.

Police say they are working on a number of theories about the bizarre incidents, but they have stressed that the quantity of cable stolen by the vandals would have little commercial value.

All the homes targeted were terraced houses with no front garden or yard.

The vandals have invariably struck during the night or early hours of the morning, say police. In every case, a metre of cable was cut away and stolen.

PC Liz Hampson, of Maryport police, said: “A section of wire has been taken from the houses. We are told there is not much value in scrap metal. We are getting more and more calls coming in about this. There has been approximately a metre taken from each house. It’s not personal and it looks random.”

David Renwick, of High Street, was one of the houses targeted on Tuesday morning. He said: “It happened early on Tuesday morning between 4am and 10am. I noticed because I was in the middle of recording a programme. It’s not just vandalism.

“If you are going to cut it you just do it and take off. Someone’s known that cut can’t be repaired.

“It is not for copper or they would have taken more of the cable and it is not worth it.

He added that the person responsible may have a grudge against Sky.

“It must have been someone who is right handed and used pliers or side cutters.”

Milly Crossfield, of North Quay, was targeted last week. She said: “There was only an inch of cable left. Why would they want to do that for? It cost us about £30 to repair. If it happens again we are going to put metal over them.”

Targeted houses have included ones in: Boyd Street, Ellenborough Old Road, James Street, Jane Street, Albert Terrace, Florence Terrace, High Street, Gilmore Street, Ellenborough Place and Ismay Wharf.

Call Maryport police on 0845 3300247 or, if the crime is in progress, call 999.