Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter | News

Thursday, 20th November, 2008

Published: Tuesday, 5th August, 2008 10:30

Couple's window horror

By Andrew Gibson

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John and Rachel Daly

Pic by: Stewart Robertson

A COUPLE returned home from a week-long sunshine break to find nearly every window of their home had been smashed by bricks.

All John and Rachel Daly wanted to do after arriving back late at night from Lourdes, in France, was go to bed for a well-deserved sleep.

But when they reached the front door of their Renton home at around 11pm, they spotted that its lock had been tampered with and their key would not work.

The pair rushed in a taxi to the home of Leven councillor Jim Bollan for help, when they did not know which way to turn.

He called on West Dunbartonshire Council’s out of hours emergency housing team to let the couple into their second floor flat.

After finally thinking that their ordeal was over, the horrified pair discovered that four windows — except for the bathroom window — had been smashed.

Rachel, 61, told the Reporter she could not believe what had happened when they arrived on July 25.

She said: “We were very tired when we came back and all I wanted to do was go to my bed.

“Once we eventually entered the house and put the lights on my husband saw this half brick on the kitchen floor.

“Nearly every single window in our house was put in — I just couldn’t believe what had happened"

The pair expressed their thanks to the council’s emergency service locksmith and the council staff who put up plastic sheeting over the windows.

The couple are also grateful to councillor Jim Bollan for assisting them during their late night ordeal.

Jim told the Reporter: “This type of vandalism is almost unheard of in Renton and I would urge any local resident with any information to contact the police."

Police have been notified about the incident and are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward and contact Alexandria police on 01389 823000.

A spokeswoman from West Dunbartonshire Council said the Daly’s windows will be replaced by tomorrow (Wednesday) and an Anti-Social Behaviour Task Force is looking into the incident.

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