A DISGRUNTLED resident has called for more police presence in Blackpole after CCTV footage shows his wing mirror being kicked off by a vandal, believed to be a new fad.

An unidentified hooded male can be seen smashing off Mark Watson’s mirror in Suffolk Drive before running away with an accomplice who is hiding in nearby bushes.

“There’s a spate of this problem in Blackpole,” said Mr Watson, 51. “It looks like his friend behind the bush is filming him. I am led to believe this pair are on Facebook posting other videos like this.”

The incident took place at 11.27pm on Sunday and the culprits then fled in the direction of a railway tunnel known locally as Devil’s Arch, which leads onto Blackpole Trading Estate.

We reported last summer Mr Watson’s concerns about the tunnel, just a few yards from his home, being used as a “gateway for an unprecedented crime wave”.

He said thieves and vandals can evade being caught by disappearing down the narrow tunnel, and wants it policed better or blocked off completely.

“It’s only a matter of time before there’s a serious crime and then they might do something,” he added.

Last July he was woken up in the early hours to the sound of a motorbike being set alight outside his house just days after his CCTV caught someone stealing his wheelie bins.

In August, Mr Watson also captured footage of two brazen thieves breaking into a car parked on his drive, before also leaving down the tunnel.

The homeowner, who has lived on the street for seven years, said June and July are “terrible” for crime in Blackpole.

“It’s mostly kids with nothing to do in the school holidays.

“There’s no lights down there and anyone who is hanging around that tunnel so late is only going to be up to no good,” he added.

After the original articles last year, former Conservative councillor for St Stephen ward Gareth Jones visited Mr Watson before doing some “digging” and “found the tunnel doesn’t belong to anyone”, said the latter.

A couple of summers ago, while he was on holiday burglars broke into his house, but Mr Watson said the levels of crime won’t lead to him moving home.

“If I was elderly I would be terrified but I can look after myself. I’m strong-willed.”

If you have any information, contact police on 101 and quote reference number 22224998519.