UK’s ‘most bitter school run’ sparks village-wide hunt for saboteur planting boobytraps of screws, dead mice & dog poo
SCHOOL-RUN parents believe they are being targeted by a saboteur after finding nails in their car tyres.
Victims claim a lane and grass verge, yards from the school gates in the Suffolk village of Creeting St Mary, has been filled with "boobytraps" to prevent parking.
These include rows of upturned screws, as well as broken glass, dog poo and dead mice.
The strip is nestled in between thatched cottages and leafy lanes, with the whodunnit ordeal now being investigated by police.
Parents affected have spoken of their fears for the safety of pupils at Creeting St Mary CEVAP School and pets who have no option but to walk down the now notorious All Saints Road each day.
Around 100 kids attend the school, with approximately half travelling in by car from nearby areas.
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Stephanie Wilson, 41, told The Times: "It’s not like somebody has just dropped a bunch of nails.
"They’re stood up, sometimes with about six inches between each one, embedded in the grass and on the road as well."
She said she knows of people who've suffered multiple punctures, adding that bursting tyres is "completely irrational".
Andy Luca, 53, saw three tyres punctured two weeks ago, and another six months ago.
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He said he sympathises with the residents, as having cars parked up twice a day has "got to be annoying" - but stressed the method of deterrent is dangerous and not appropriate.
Parish council clerk, Jennie Blackburn, said the nails appeared to have been stuck “deliberately” and are quickly replaced within a day or two once they're picked up.
She said the council has advised parents to park further up the road.
The issue was first reported in January but it was only when mum-of-two and NHS nurse Angharad, 33, suffered four flat tyres in quick succession over the summer that parents began to connect the dots.
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She warned about it in a school-run WhatsApp group leading to other members to investigate the road.
They found a strip outside one house was lined with screws stuck upright.
Val Brittain, 50, said before the nails there was also a handful of dead mice, shattered glass bottles and dog poo.
Mum-of-two Samantha Reed, 37, said the problem has been going on for at least five years.
She told the MailOnline: "It’s not accidental – this is a deliberate attempt to puncture tyres and they don’t care if a child or a dog gets injured in the process."
While dad-of-two Thomas Lehkyj, 33, said the parking is "a bit chaotic" sometimes, but generally parents and villagers and very respectful towards each other.
He added: "From what I’ve been told, it’s just one person, rather than some kind of Hot Fuzz-style gang of vigilantes running around with nails, but it’s caused a lot of worry and aggravation to parents."
The Times approached the owner of the property where the boobytraps have been found but he denied placing any such items and attempting to damage vehicles.
He added such claims by the school-run parents are "pathetic", though admitted annoyance at seeing people park on the verge.
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The occupant said he has had his own tyres punctured on the lane by tacks dropped off horses' hooves.
The Sun has contacted Suffolk Police for comment.