A MOTHER and son are still reeling after the van they need to run their new family business was smashed up by mindless vandals who went on the rampage through the district.

Susan Evans, 59, of Colson Road, Loughton, was woken up by her 25-year-old son Owen at 6.15am last Wednesday, March 23, to find the windscreen of the van they use to run their dog walking and pet care business Animal Evans had been broken, along with those of several other vehicles in their street.

“There was a hole in the windscreen I could get two fingers through,” she said. “I called the police because I could see the other (damaged) cars.

“We lost a whole day’s business. I had to phone up four people and say ‘sorry, we can’t walk your dogs today,’ because my son uses the van to do jobs that are further afield.

“I was angry. We’ve just started our own business and we’re trying to make a living.

“Now we’ve got a new windscreen, my son’s always asking me to keep an eye on it. It cost £150 to replace, although we will get that back from the insurance.

“I’m still clearing up the glass from the inside of the van and I’ve got little splinters in my hand.”

She said she had gone to bed at about 11.30pm and had not heard anything unusual in the street overnight.

Police said a total of 19 vehicles had their windscreens shattered on the same night and they believe one gang may be responsible for all the damage.

Five cars and vans had their windscreens smashed in Colson Road, while three were hit in nearby Deepdene Drive and Chequers Road.

Avondale Drive and Roding Lane, Also in Loughton, had one vehicle targeted each and two windscreens were smashed in Danbury Road.

That night, the same vandals are though to have smashed up windscreens in Limes Avenue, Copperfields Courtland Drive and Lechmere Avenue, Chigwell, and Thaxted Road in Buckhurst Hill.

Anyone with information on the incidents should call Loughton police station on 0300 3334444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.