RESIDENTS have been plagued by a six month tyre-slashing spree with warnings they could lead to a fatal crash.

The Argus has been informed of 19 incidents of tyres being cut in Hove in the last two months alone though the full toll in and around Hove may be higher.

Cllr Robert Nemeth has been trying to help get to the bottom of the crime spree and suspects it maybe someone trying to deter drivers from parking in the area.

He said: “This could easily lead to a fatal crash.

"Whatever grievances they may have about the local parking situation will not be solved by damaging fellow residents’ vehicles.

"We have already won the all-important light-touch parking consultation that will be taking place from December.

"I urge them to stop immediately.”

Sussex Police say they have no viable lines of enquiry into the offences and one councillor has warned of the risk of a dangerous risk to any driver who pulls away without noticing.

Peter Best, a resident of Kingsway on Hove seafront, has fallen victim to incidents of his tyres being slashed over a three-month period. Other residents, and owners of commercial vehicles in the area, have been affected in a similar manner.

Mr Best runs a B&B on Kingsway and legally parks a large trailer for his son’s racing car outside his property.

The first incident happened between April 25 and 29 when two tyres on the trailer were attacked and then a few days later, between May 2-5, two more were targeted on the trailer, along with one on the Ford Conquest motorhome parked in Kingsway.

On the second occasion, the trailer had two tyres damaged on May 16.

On May 25 the Ford Conquest was vandalised again while parked in the same place, this time sustaining £200 worth of damage to two tyres.

The tyres are being pierced with a sharp spike such as a dart.

Cllr Robert Nemeth explained: "As this leads to the tyres deflating slowly, so that the damage may not immediately be apparent, it is a particularly dangerous crime. Blow-outs could even end up happening on a fast road such as the A27 or A23."

More recently in June a tyre on a Toyota Landcruiser parked at the same location was pierced by a sharp object.

A police spokesman said: "Enquiries have been made locally, including approaches to local businesses with CCTV on their properties, but there are no viable lines of enquiry. Anyone with information is asked to email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 744 of 07/05."

In nearby St Leonard's Road a tyre was slashed in mid June, and last month a Mazda Bongo van had two tyres damaged.