Residents are urged to be on high alert as a group of youths have been spotted throwing wine bottles and smashing windows.

On Sunday just after 8pm, a gang of five people used a wine bottle to smash the lounge window of a home on the Wick.

Police attended the scene very quickly, as they were already in the area due to similar incidents taking place.

Sarah Keevil, 31, of Halesmere Road, Wickford, reported the incident on behalf of a resident whose parents’ home was targeted following a message to the Crimewatch Wickford Facebook page, which she runs.

She said: “There has been other incidents on the same night. The police was already in the area dealing with similar incidents.

“Nobody knows if it was done by the same people. The man who told me about the incident had CCTV footage of what was done to their property. It could be the same group of people.

“Obviously it’s a group of youths they don’t realise the consequences of throwing glass bottles to people’s homes because someone could get injured.

“These are elderly people who are targeted. It’s so uncalled for and it’s disgusting.”

Ms Keevil urged residents to report on any information they know to the police and to the Crimewatch page to update residents.

Ms Keevil said the Wick has been an area of trouble.

She said: “The Wick itself has lots of rat runs connecting to other roads so if you commit a crime there it’s easy to find an escape route.”

Don Morris, conservative councillor representing Wickford Castledon, said: “It’s really sad that this has happened. I don’t know who these people are, but the community needs to come out and tackle the problem. If people know any information they should contact the police.

“Those who are responsible need to be urgently dealt with. I think parents need to be brought to court with them too because it’s their responsibility to make sure their kids behave themselves.”

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Alternatively visit www.crimestoppers-uk.org