POLICE today defended their actions after young vandals caught on video during a wrecking spree were let off with a caution.

When Raymond and Maria Stansfield's Stacksteads car depot was targeted by vandals 15 times in three weeks, causing thousands of pounds of damage, they decided to try to catch the culprits in the act.

So Raymond armed two of his staff with camcorders and walkie talkies, and they saw two boys climb over a high wall and a fence to cause havoc.

The staff filmed the pair hotwiring vehicles, driving them round the compound like dodgems, and leaping from car roof to car roof, smashing windows and sun roofs. Raymond then phoned the local police station and the boys were arrested after a chase.

But he was stunned when he was told by officers the next day that the boys had been cautioned and released.

And he was even more shocked when he learned that one boy had carried out similar destruction 18 months earlier, for which he was also cautioned.

But as cautions against under-14s last only six months under force policy, the wrecking spree was treated as a first offence.

A Lancashire Police spokesman said: "Mr Stansfield's property has suffered lots of damage over a period of weeks, but on the night in question, for which we have video evidence, the damage caused was only £200, which these lads admitted to.

"In accordance with force policy with regard to their age and the severity of the offence, cautions were considered appropriate.

"There wasn't any evidence to link the boys with all the damage, but had there been, then it would have been a different matter. It is true that one of them had a previous caution for an earlier offence, but this was 19 months ago and, under force policy, cautions only run for six months." Maria Stansfield said: "We have done everything we can. We paid our staff to stay late to video these vandals and then once we handed the evidence over to the police nothing happened. It is as if their hands are tied.

"These youngsters may only be 12 but they are the big-time car thieves of the future. There is no deterrent for them if they get off with just a slap on the wrist. What will happen next time young vandals attack our property?

"The police said we could go for a private prosecution - but what is the point in us paying taxes if that is what we have to do.

"We have two young sons ourselves and I would dread to think that I wouldn't know where they were and what they were up to at the age of just 12."

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