Minibus clue in hunt for drive-by sniper

10:40am Wednesday 25th October 2006

A NEW wave of shootings has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage at a car showroom.

Two recent attacks with a high-powered air rifle have left large windows smashed at the Lexus Bolton dealership on Bury Road, Tonge Fold.

Police believe one of the attacks may have been a "drive-by" shooting launched from a minibus, captured passing the showroom on CCTV cameras.

Owners of the dealership have been left with a £20,000 bill to replace smashed windows following a spate of attacks over the last 18 months and are now offering a £1,000 reward to catch the sniper.

Police have released footage from security cameras in a bid to trace the minibus, which passed the showroom at 7.34pm on Saturday, September 23 - shortly before a plate-glass window was smashed.

Houses in the nearby area have been searched but no arrests have been made.

Insp Tony Kenyon said: "We are keen to trace the driver of the van if only to eliminate the vehicle from our enquiries.

"It is obviously very similar to thousands of vans which are in use but this one was on Tonge Moor Road on the evening of Saturday, September 23.

"I am determined that we will eventually catch the offender and we have a number of operations planned to address this problem.

"Many months can pass between each offence, which makes it even more frustrating.

"The cost to this local business, caused by what is likely to be one or a small number of individuals, is staggering."

Police appealed for information in March of this year following 13 shootings which dated back as far as May 2005.

Clive Mattimoe, manager for Lexus Bolton, said: "It is of great concern to the management and staff at Lexus Bolton that these incidents have begun to occur again.

"We have renewed our offer of a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the culprits and echo the police request for the local community to assist us by giving whatever information they can."

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