Warning as brick yobs target bus

Mar 7 2007 By Steve Johnson, Birmingham Mail

BUS passengers were showered with glass after being ambushed by a stone-throwing mob.

And just an hour later a taxi driver had to dive for cover when the same gang targeted his vehicle.

Today Det Chief Insp George Tracey, of Sandwell South CID at Smethwick, warned that someone would die if the incidents escalated.

He said undercover police and community support officers would tonight be boarding buses in the Rowley Regis area looking for troublemakers.

Mr Tracey said the first incident happened at about 8 pm last night in Stuart Road, Rowley Regis.

He said windows on a bus were smashed by a hail of bricks and passengers were showered with glass.

"Thankfully no one was badly hurt but this incident could have been much more serious if the bus driver had been hit and he had lost control of the vehicle." he said.

Mr Tracey said the second incident was at 9pm in nearby Hanover Road.

"A taxi driver reported that his taxi had been shot at, with windows being shattered.

"He did not see a firearm so I think we can assume that this was again youths throwing stones or bricks at his vehicle.

"This is a very worrying trend and we intend to nip this in the bud by taking immediate action in the area." he added.

Mr Tracey said there had been a spate of similar incidents recently in the Smethwick area but problems had stopped after police and PCSOs boarded buses.

"We shall be doing the same in the Rowley Regis area from tonight.

"We have a very good relationship with Travel West Midlands and we shall be working with them to stamp out this problem which could have lethal consequences," he added.

Anyone with any information on the two incidents last night should contact Sandwell South CID at Smethwick on 0845 1135000.