MOUNT Gambier Police have arrested three teenagers following a crime series of rock throwing in the city earlier this month.
Overnight on January 4, local police received 19 reports of vehicles having been damaged by rocks in the Mount Gambier area.
While initial reports suggested damage up to $20,000, police have since revised the figure to an estimated value, which would exceed $40,000.
Following numerous enquiries, police arrested a 15-year-old Mount Gambier boy and two Mount Gambier men aged 18 and 19 years-old and charged them with numerous counts of property damage.
Mount Gambier resident Jamie Coates was one victim of the teenagers brazen activity.
He described one of the rocks – which narrowly missed the window of his vehicle and struck the door pillar causing significant damage – was the size of a tennis ball.
The repairs to his vehicle were expected to cost several thousands of dollars.
“They are going to have to replace or completely repair both doors,” he said.
“Just coming out of Christmas, it’s just more money I have to spend, so it is extremely frustrating.”
He said he was surprised to hear that so many incidents occurred in the one evening.
“You do not hear of these sort of things happening too often, it’s just damage for the cause of damaging something,” Mr Coates said.
While the incident is believed to be a one-off occurrence, Mount Gambier Police officer in charge Senior Sergeant Chris King said the large number of cars damaged was “very concerning”.
“You should be able to park your car on the street without having someone come past and throwing rocks at it,” Snr Sgt King said.
“Some people do not have a choice.”
All three of the charged offenders have been bailed with conditions to attend the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court in February.
