VANDALS wreaked havoc when they played “dodgems” with plant hire vehicles.
They broke into a Kirklees plant hire depot and caused more than £150,000 damage to vehicles.
Now Dewsbury CID are appealing for witnesses after the joyriders left the trail of damage in Birstall.
The incident happened on the night of March 7 but details have only just been released.
At some point between 7.30pm that night and 6.30am the following day, an unknown number of suspects got into the yard of KPH Plant Hire Ltd on the Pennine View Industrial Estate off Gelderd Road.
Once inside the yard, the suspects were able to get into and drive some of the vehicles, taking them on what police described as “a bumper car” style joyride inside the compound.
Other vehicles and plant in the yard also had their windows smashed.
The firm found 50 windows had been broken.
In all, six vehicles were damaged, at a cost of about £150,000.
A spokesman for the firm, which employs 16 people, said: “It has come out of the blue.
“We have been trading here for 30 years and although we have had the odd theft or bit of vandalism, there has been nothing like this.
“Two of the vehicles have had to be written off and a third, the largest wagon, has had to go back to the manufacturers for repairs.
“It has meant we have had to turn some work away which is not good these days.
“We have also had to hire in extra vehicles, at a great cost, and will now have to consider fitting CCTV to the depot.
“There is also the danger aspect to consider – whoever chose to drive these machines around put themselves in grave danger.”
Police are following up a number of leads and are carrying out forensic tests on items recovered from the scene.
Officers are now appealing for anyone with any information on the damage to contact Det Con Cath Lowdon at Dewsbury CID on 01924 431095 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
