SEVERAL cars belonging to students of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) have been targeted in a spate of vandal attacks.

A total of five cars, all believed to be owned by students of the Cirencester university, were damaged and reported to police during the first week of the month.

Overnight between October 1 and 2, a substance was smeared onto the windscreen of a Seat Ibiza, parked on Bowly Road in Cirencester.

The same car then had its rear windscreen wiper snapped off and its front wiper bent overnight between October 8 and 9.

Referring to the first attack, Cotswold Police Sergeant Garrett Gloyn said: “Fortunately, the owner was able to clean it off without lasting damage being caused.

“But obviously on the second occasion there was real lasting damage caused.”

Police were also called to Queen Elizabeth Road after damage had been caused to a grey Fiat Punto, including scratches to paintwork, overnight between October 2 and 3.

Then, overnight between October 5 and 6 the same car had a tyre slashed.

Also on Queen Elizabeth Road, a blue Mini was keyed and the paintwork on the driver’s door damaged on the night of October 2 before its tyres were slashed on October 5, as was the tyre of a white Audi on the same road.

“In each incidence, these vehicles appear to be owned by students at the RAU and we would appeal for any witnesses to contact us,” said Sgt Gloyn.

“We are aware of complaints from residents in Cirencester about parking in the vicinity of student households and these are being addressed by local officers.

“Our fear is that some local residents might wish to take the law into their own hands.

“If we gather evidence identifying an offender for these criminal damage offences we will look to prosecute,” he added.