Ludlow delivery van tyres slashed three times
The owner of a Ludlow delicatessen has urged people to keep a look out after the tyres on his delivery van were slashed three times in a town centre.
Martyn Emsen, owner of the Smoke House Deli and Chicchetti Bar in Broad Street, has taken to putting a warning sign in his van.
He has also put a tyre on the bonnet to get people's attention – urgwarning passers-by to be vigilant.
Mr Emsen, who also runs Ludlow Traditional Smokehouse foods, said he relied on the van to deliver to scores of customers in the area, so any attack on his van could also harm other businesses.
The sign in the windscreen of his parked van reads "Beware! This is not the pretty little town you think it is," before telling passers-by what has happened.
He said the most recent attack was on Tuesday.
"This is the third time I've had the tyres slashed in eight weeks," he said.
"It was during the day, sometime between 10.30am and 1.30pm.
"Fortunately this there was an electrician working in a house opposite who took a photograph of what happened and has given it to the police."
He said there were also CCTV cameras at the top of Broad Street which police were reviewing, though he was parked towards the bottom end of the street and did not know whether anything had been captured on film.
"I have checked with garages in the town and there have been a few other tyre slashings recently, but no more in Broad Street," he said.
"We need the van to deliver to 60-odd restaurants and delicatessens in the area."
But he said thanks to prompt action from local firm Coder Tyres on Ludlow Business Park it had not yet stopped deliveries going ahead.
"They've been brilliant, they'll come out and change the tyres right here," he said.
"So it's more of an inconvenience than anything."
Anyone with information about the tyre slashings is urged to contact West Mercia Police on 101. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org
