AN incensed Oakhurst resident staged a one-man mission to stop reckless vandals damaging cars in his road.

Two men driving a silver Vauxhall Corsa were first spotted driving around Oakhurst and Redhouse and damaging cars just before 6.30pm on Friday, August 22.

When one man saw the damage being done he could not sit back and watch, so leapt into his own car in hot pursuit.

He followed the Corsa as it left Southwold Close, turned right into Garsington Drive, crossed Thamesdown Drive and entered Queen Elizabeth Drive.

Along the whole route the car scratched paintwork on parked vehicles and smashed their wing mirrors.

The two men in the silver car then turned round and retraced their route and continued damaging vehicles.

The crime-fighting resident tried to put a stop to the crime wave, and put his own safety on the line by blocking the Corsa in, only to find the mindless destruction focused on his own car.

Police spokesman Martin Dunscombe said: “The caller stopped his vehicle to block the Corsa in at which point his car was rammed, causing extensive damage to both vehicles and injury to the caller.

“The Corsa left and the caller continued to follow until the Corsa crashed into railings at the Purton Road junction of Thamesdown Drive. At this point the caller deemed it too dangerous to continue following.”

After the two men had damaged 39 cars, police tracked the Corsa to its registered keeper’s address where the car was seized for forensic examination.

An 18-year-old Swindon man was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage and released on police bail pending further inquiries.

PC Troy Smith said: “An investigation has begun and has established that 39 vehicles were damaged by these two men.

“Their actions have caused upset and inconvenience for a large number of people and we are taking this extremely seriously.

“We have already made an arrest in connection with this incident.

“However, I would still like to speak to anyone else who saw these two men or knows who they are.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Troy Smith on 0845 408 7000 or phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.