Damage to a car in Camden Square

FOR drivers, it might just be the most annoying form of pointless vandalism: you get to your car and somebody has scratched through the paintwork.

Around 20 vehicles in Camden Square and Camden Mews, Camden Town, were hit in one week earlier this month.

The weird part for baffled residents is that a man has been shown on dashcam footage scratching the cars on one night just after midnight – and then returning to do the same thing to more between 7am to 8am.

Annie Mullins, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said: “I’ve got a VW Camper Van. You see him scratch along the side of it. When I got to my vehicle, it had been scratched multiple times.”

She described the damage as more than scratches, but deep “doodles”.

It cost her £1,500 to get her vehicle fixed.

Ms Mullins added: “We were anxious as a neighbourhood as we think he lives locally. Police say they know who he is.

“We just feel a bit restless about whether they will return or not. We don’t want him to come back, otherwise we’ll have to confront him.”

More scratches

Scratches that are not fixed can cause long-term problems for cars if they are left to rust.

Corrosion from rain can lead to even bigger repair bills.

Ms Mullins said: “We just want some reassurance that us and our property are safe. Whatever implement he had could be quite dangerous to people.

“Twenty cars were damaged which is about £20,000 worth of damage. Some of the cars are valuable. I think a Porsche was scratched.”

A police spokesperson said: “Met officers are investigating several instances of criminal damage taking place between Saturday August 30 and Wednesday September 3. Enquiries are ongoing. At this stage no arrests have been made.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.

Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.