THREE WEEKS to avoid airport parking fees.
Cars are being vandalised and daubed in graffiti by a disgruntled resident near Luton Airport after their owners allegedly parked them on a residential street for three weeks to avoid airport parking fees.
Locals on a street in Luton, Bedfordshire, have taken pictures of the Range Rover, which is one of two with its windows smashed.
It is believed the car had been parked there for more than two weeks when it was vandalised last Sunday on a street that is a 10-minute drive from the airport.
Angela Baldwin's sister, Sarah, spotted the car on her street and noticed it had been vandalised.
Ms Baldwin, 37, said: 'The owners are going to have a shock when they get back of their holiday.
'I've heard that the person who wrote on the car did only that and since then the windows have been smashed and the other damage caused by kids.
'The writing looks easily washed off, however, since the writing was done, that then has given whoever the green light to smash it up.'
Samir Hissaund, an IT consultant, has a Ford Focus parked outside his property that has graffiti written on it and claims that it is a regular occurrence on his road.
Mr Hissaund, 32, said: 'The car parked there three or four weeks ago now.
'It's a regular occurence for people to park on our street when they go to the airport. There's always cars parked outside houses.
'After a couple of weeks, the council actually put a notice on it to say it was an abandoned vehicle and after that, the windows were smashed.
'I know they were smashed with a brick because one was sat on the driver's seat.
'There was another car further up the street and both had white writing on them.
'This happens quite regularly and I've probably seen upwards of 10 cars with this writing on them. Residents on this street have also written 'no airport parking' in the road.
'I got a leaflet through the door which stated that the council are in consultation about introducing a permit scheme.
'I fear that might push the problem to another street though.
'We actually have a drive on our property which can fit both of our vehicles, so we never personally have problems.'
Another resident, Amanda Carnell, who lives three streets away, believes youngsters may be involved.
She said: 'This isn't in my street but I have seen it vandalised for three weeks.
'People using nearby streets [as free parking instead of paying at the airport] is a huge issue in this area. It's much worse on that street, but it's spreading to mine now too.
'I believe the local council are going to start using permits for residents to help combat it. I think you'll probably get two permits per household.
We just got a leaflet through the other day.
'The road's pretty bad anyway because it's on a hill as well so you can't see if there's cars coming the other way.
'It is a problem, but it certainly doesn't warrant this kind of behaviour. This is why I think it might be children.
'They have probably heard something at home and they don't understand what's going to happen in the future.
'Incidents like this will push up the price of insurance for car owners in the area.'
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