Children scared after late night Christmas vandals attack property

One Tasmanian family’s Christmas celebrations were turned upside down as late-night vandals targeted their property. Hear from the family.

The three cars damaged at the Lenah Valley property. Picture: supplied

One Tasmanian family’s Christmas has turned upside down as they woke in the night to find two people in their driveway smashing and destroying their vehicles.

Lenah Valley’s Ali Jamal woke at around 10.45pm on Wednesday to three loud bangs outside his home, which he shares with his wife and three young daughters.

“I thought after the first bang that it might have been my neighbours putting out rubbish or something,” Mr Jamal said.

“The other bangs made me go outside though, and that’s when I saw two people in my driveway near my cars and they ran off.”

Ali's family car was damaged in the overnight vandalism incident, with the rear windshield smashed and dents all over the vehicle. Picture: supplied.

Outside his home, Mr Jamal found that all three cars in his driveway – two family vehicles and one a friend’s taxi parked while they were away – had been extensively damaged.

The rear windshields of the taxi and family’s Hyundai had been smashed in, with dents found all over all three vehicles as well as scratches and further damage.

Mr Jamal said no items had been stolen from the vehicles and while both the family’s cars were insured, they were without transport for the foreseeable future.

“I had to go to my business today, but without a car, I had to call in some of my employees rostered off to look after things for me,” he said.

“My wife is without a car as well and we won’t have a way to transport our kids anywhere if we need to.”

A friend's taxi parked at Ali's property had its rear windshield smashed, dents placed around the car and side mirrors kicked in. Picture: supplied

Mr Jamal said his children were unsettled after the incident, staying up until 3am as they were unsure if someone would come back to their home.

“We don’t know why anyone would do this really,” he said.

“We’re set back from our street and no other vehicles were damaged, why would someone do this and on Christmas.”

Tasmania Police confirmed they are investigating the incident after responding to reports of car vandalism at a Lenah Valley address on Wednesday night.

Anyone with information in relation to the damage is asked to contact police on 131 444 or provide information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

A friend's taxi parked at Ali's property had its rear windshield smashed, dents placed around the car and side mirrors kicked in. Picture: supplied