Neds target Coatbridge bus firms

Jun 25 2008 by Wendy Scott, Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser

NEDS went on a window smashing spree causing thousands of pounds worth of damage to 10 buses at two Coatbridge depots.

In the first incident at Arthur Lindsay Coaches, at Greenhill Industrial Estate, vandals picked up a hammer from the site and smashed eight windows and door mirrors of three buses causing £1700 worth of damage between 9.30pm on June 17 and 6.45am on June 18.

The buses are on a school contract but fortunately owner Dougie Arthur was able to put on a spare bus to ferry pupils to St Maurice’s High in Cumbernauld.

And at Essbee Coaches, Hollandhurst Road, three buses had their windows smashed – costing £1000 to repair – and one had a door damaged.

A Siemens Digital Tachograph and two audio CD players, worth about £1200, were also stolen.

Tom Morris, the firm’s transport manager, is offering a £500 reward for information leading to the tracing and charging of those responsible.

He said: “Two of the buses, which had their windows smashed, were for school contracts and we just managed to put on extra buses to meet our contract, or we wouldn’t have been able to take the children to school.

“We have CCTV cameras covering our site and are currently looking at tapes.”

PC Dougie McFadzean, of Coatbridge Police Office, said: “Anyone with information should contact Coatbridge Police on 502000.”

Essbee transport manager Tom Morris is offering a £500 reward for information leading to the apprehension of neds responsible for thousands of pounds worth of damage to buses at his Coatbridge depot.