Bizarre Campaign of Vandalism
An elderly couple from Essex have been left devastated after a series of bizarre attacks on their home, including their cars being doused in paint stripper and manure being shoved through their letterbox.
Ken and Diane Lott, both 81, returned from a holiday on February 8 to find their front door smeared with a mysterious brown substance, a key glued into the lock, and their home vandalised. Police are scrambling to identify the culprit, whose face was captured on CCTV.
Targeted Attacks Over Ten Months
The first attack happened in April last year when the couple came back from another holiday with their daughter Julie, 48, and found their two cars destroyed with paint stripper. CCTV later showed the vandal returning to spray black paint on the vehicles and inject both exhaust pipes with insulation foam. The damage was so severe that both cars had to be written off.
Despite increasing security and installing more cameras, the Lotts believed the attacks had stopped. But a month ago, after another holiday, they returned to another unsettling act of vandalism—this time, manure-like material stuffed through their letterbox.
Police Search for Suspect
This time, their doorbell camera captured a clear image of a woman police wish to speak to. Julie said, “It was devastating. My parents are upset and frustrated. My entire body was shaking with anger.”
The attacks have left the family frightened, especially since Julie and her father are in a band, and the incidents occurred while they were away performing. They now suspect the perpetrator may be monitoring their performances to track their whereabouts.
Community on High Alert
Essex Police have circulated the image of the suspect but have yet to make an arrest. The image has been shared widely on social media, with Julie saying, “It is such a clear picture. Someone must know who she is.”
Inspector David Kealy, of the Castle Point and Rochford community policing team, reassured the family that officers are patrolling the area. “No one should feel unsafe in their home,” he said. “This property is included in officers’ daily patrols, and any suspicious activity will be acted upon.”
With the letterbox now sealed, the family remains anxious about what could happen next, fearing the vandal has no intention of stopping.
