Vandals dressed in black on Halloween Edinburgh rampage

Lynne Lineen's car had its windscreen smashed by youths. Picture: Greg Macvean

Accountant Lynne Lineen was watching television with rugby legend husband Sean at home in Craighall Gardens when vandals struck.

“I was sitting in the house watching The Great British Bake Off and we heard this almighty crash,” said Lynne, 52. “To be honest it sounded more like a lorry hitting something.

“Both my husband and I jumped up. I went to look out of the curtains and he ran to the front door.

“We saw kids dressed in black running across the road.”

About ten youths, aged around 13-15, were seen bolting from the scene shortly before 9pm.

Other brazen attacks started from 5pm.

Mother-of-two Lynne found her Fiat Punto with a smashed windscreen, along with a neighbour’s Renault and five others in the street.

A number of cars sustained damage to their windscreens on a night of anti-social behaviour across the Capital. Picture: Greg Macvean

“They must’ve synchronised it because there’s no way they had time to do all that damage otherwise. It’s interesting  looking at the damage, it doesn’t look like anybody jumped on the bonnet because there’s no damage to it.

“It looks like they’ve taken something to swing at it – but we didn’t see them carrying anything.”

Further damage was reported in Connaught Place – following other attacks in Trinity dating back two weeks.

Police officers on beefed-up Hallowe’en patrols were responding to one call last night when they were radioed to be told vandals had struck again close by.

Lynne has been told her Punto might be off the road till next week as repairers struggle to cope with demand.

“I phoned Autoglass and they said it will be Monday because they’re so busy repairing windscreens in this area,” she said.

Lynne and Sean, capped 29 times and awarded the freedom of the city, now face days of disruption with their youngest son, 18, returning from his classics course in Durham.

“He’s meant to be coming back at the weekend to learn to drive in that car but can’t as it is,” she said.

Firefighters were called to Stenhouse Drive shortly before 9.30pm after about 20 youths tipped communal bins into a playground and set one alight.

In Leith’s Madeira Street and Portland street up to 14 cars were daubed with “YLT” – Young Leith Team – in white paint.

Chief Inspector Kevin McLean said inquiries are ongoing. “In the lead up to Bonfire night and over Hallowe’en we have had increased patrols in the area,” he added.

“I would ask anyone who saw these incidents taking place, or who knows who is responsible, to get in touch with us as soon as possible. We are also interested in hearing from anyone with private CCTV in the area.”

Anyone with information can contact police on 101, quoting incident number 4160 of October 31 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

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