‘They put me out of business’: Fratton garage owner at wits end after cars 'obliterated' in yard by thugs

Vandals have targeted Byngs Autos in Goldsmith Avenue this week. Trevor Byng, 48, said has been dealing with youths throwing bricks at windows, setting fire to car roof linings and leaving vehicles in ruins.

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He told The News: ‘They’re literally picking up bricks and throwing them through windows. Our cars have been completely obliterated.

‘What’s the point in doing all this hard work if everything is getting smashed up.’ The entrepreneur said problems with teenagers started happening last year, with multiple vehicles being destroyed by six youths.

He added last year he laid in a van for six hours to catch ‘the nippers’ in the act, but even after spotting two of them and hearing the names of several others, the police did not have enough evidence to make any arrests. Now, thugs are continuing to wreck his property. Mr Byng, who has run the auto yard for over a decade, said: ‘It was ever since they done up the basketball court. At night you see adults throwing whisky bottles around and kids loitering around.

‘Teenagers got into the yard and smashed up the cars. They put me out of business.’ Mr Byng added due to a lack of electricity at the yard due to various ongoing problems and surprise costs, CCTV cameras can’t be installed.

He is disappointed in the police’s response and does not believe they’re doing enough. The owner said he will not be compensated for the damage, as the incidents have been classed as ‘malicious damage’ – not covered in his insurance policy – and not vandalism, which is.

He estimates damages will cost him £40,000 and said he may sell his business. ‘I can’t stomach being in Portsmouth anymore,’ he added.

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‘They’ve gotten away with it once, so they can do it again. If I close the business, I’ll move on to something different.’

A police spokeswoman said officers are investigating a January 17 incident where two men were seen looking into lorries, with criminal damage being caused. She added other reports were received between January 16 and 17, and overnight between Thursday and Friday morning.

An investigation is ongoing. Reports can be made via 101, quoting 44230022474.