Masked intruders smash up cars at home of election candidate

Barbara Prodger, who was elected to Alfrick Parish Council, said she woke up to the sound of banging and smashing between 11pm and 12am yesterday (Thursday, May 4).

“I’m still trying to process it really - I haven’t been to sleep since and I’m exhausted,” she said.

“Three of us had gone to bed, my husband was still up watching TV but our house would have been completely dark from the road.

“I was woken by banging and smashing. It was hard to process for a few seconds, then I heard my son screaming.

“I looked outside and there were two individuals in balaclavas smashing up the cars on the drive. My son screamed at them and one ran off. The other got an extra couple of hits in before leaving.

“I have never seen so much glass.

“The police finally found us - three or four patrol cars arrived and some took off to try and find them, but we didn’t see what they were driving or which way they were heading.”

Mrs Prodger spoke of the shock at something like this happening in the Worcestershire countryside.

“It’s so rural where we are,” she said. “It’s so peaceful and idyllic - this is a real shock. I feel victimised, I feel violated.”

She appealed for anyone who may have CCTV or doorbell images of the attack or of the masked offenders making their getaway to contact the police.

“I know it’s difficult around here, a lot of houses are set back from the road and it was dark, so it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack, but you never know.”

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: “At just after 11.30pm on Thursday, May 4, police responded to a report of criminal damage in Alfrick in Worcestershire.

“The victim reported that two suspects who were dressed in black with balaclavas covering their faces were throwing rocks at their vehicles. Two cars had windows broken.

“Anyone with any information is asked to please contact PC Emma Cropper on 07929 783677 or email emma.cropper@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 539i of 4 May 2023.”