Family left to fork out £200 after thugs smash car windscreen with pumpkin

A FAMILY has been left to foot a £200 repair bill after thugs smashed their car windscreen with a pumpkin.
The damage to the Clostermanns' Honda FRV and the pumpkin found smashed next to it. Picture: Wolf ClostermannThe damage to the Clostermanns' Honda FRV and the pumpkin found smashed next to it. Picture: Wolf Clostermann
The damage to the Clostermanns' Honda FRV and the pumpkin found smashed next to it. Picture: Wolf Clostermann

The damage was done last night on Hayling Island as scores of people across The News' patch went out trick-or-treating for Halloween. 

Bacon Lane resident and father-of-eight Wolf Clostermann said he discovered the damage between 8.45pm and 9pm. 

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'˜We heard a noise that sounded like someone knocking at the door and we didn't think anything of it,' the 39-year-old said. 

The damage to the Clostermanns' Honda FRV and the pumpkin found smashed next to it. Picture: Wolf ClostermannThe damage to the Clostermanns' Honda FRV and the pumpkin found smashed next to it. Picture: Wolf Clostermann
The damage to the Clostermanns' Honda FRV and the pumpkin found smashed next to it. Picture: Wolf Clostermann

'˜I went out a bit later and noticed the pumpkin and the smashed window. I was very upset. 

'˜We had gone the extra mile this year with decorations and bought lots of sweets for trick-or-treaters.'

The smashed windscreen, belonging to Wolf's wife Lisa's Honda FRV, is expected to cost £200 to fix when it goes in for repair tomorrow. 

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But that is not the family's only concern, as the six-seater vehicle is crucial for the school run and Lisa's mobility. 

Wolf, a systems administrator at Petersfield firm Feefo, said: '˜It plays a very important role because of how many seats it has.

'˜It's used for getting the children to school and Lisa uses it to take our eldest to and from her job as a carer at Park House Rest Home.' 

He added: '˜My wife also has a condition which affects the cartilage in her left knee, so she needs the car to get around because walking any distance at all is incredibly uncomfortable for her.' 

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While the couple have another car they can use, Lisa, a self-employed seamstress, is keen to see those responsible for the damage brought to the fore. 

'˜What happened has upset me,' she said. 

'˜We have always thought this was such a safe area '“ we've never had any issues like this.

'˜We would like to know who has done it and why. What did they get out of it?' 

Mr Clostermann '“ who said the pumpkin later disappeared from his driveway '“ said the damage did not completely his spirits last night. 

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'˜The kids still had a fantastic time and that's what it's all about,' he said. 

'˜This was obviously done by a minority and we are determined to go even bigger and better for Halloween next year.'

The damage to the Clostermanns' car was condemned by scores of people online and one Facebook user, 27-year-old mum Hannah Bowling, even launched a JustGiving page so the community could chip in for the repairs. 

So far, 17 donors have raised £134. 

Hannah said: '˜It was just a small gesture to help a family not be out of pocket. I would hate the thought of this happening to any of my friends or family.' 

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Mr Clostermann described the gesture as extremely generous. 

Hampshire police confirmed they were alerted to the incident last night.

'˜We received a report that the windscreen of a Honda FRV was smashed after a pumpkin was thrown at it,' they said.

'˜The incident took place between 8.30pm and 9.15pm last night (31 October) on Bacon Lane, Hayling Island.

'˜Anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information is asked to contact police on 101, quoting 44180409767.'