Police car windows smashed

FILE

Police are on the hunt for whoever smashed a patrol car's window, tail lights and side mirrors as a police officer dealt with a bunch of unruly youngsters.

The police officer was called to a reserve off Bellingham Cres in Fordlands on Sunday between 8pm and 8.30pm after reports of a vehicle driving on the basketball court and in the area of the children's playground.

Police communications manager Kim Perks said the officer found a group of up to 10 children aged between 6 and 16 pushing a car out of the reserve area.

They started verbally abusing the officer, Ms Perks said.

Most of the group ran off and the officer called for backup, she said.

Ms Perks said his patrol car was parked behind a fence, out of sight from where the officer was dealing with the group.

"While the officer was running checks on the vehicle in the reserve, his patrol car was being vandalised," she said.

"He returned to his vehicle to find it damaged. It's not clear if the same group did it."

She said the car's back window and rear tail lights were smashed and the side mirrors had been hit as well.

The vandalism was estimated to cost $1000 to repair.

Ms Perks said police would like to hear from members of the public who saw what happened.

Information can be passed on by calling (07) 348 0099 or anonymously by calling 0800 555 111.