MORE than a dozen cars have been vandalised causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.

Victims say yobs went on a keying spree during the night on Wednesday and targeted cars parked in underground car parks in the Woodgrange Estate, in Southend.

Residents were gutted to find their cars yesterday morning, with some scratches so deep that paint residue was visible.

One of the victims, who did not want to be named, said: “I came down in the morning at 6am to find my car had been keyed all over the bonnet, roof, and side.

“I was livid. I am disgusted. I have not even had this car that long. Every single car in the car park had been done.”

The car park is owned by Estaury Housing Association and is manned in the evenings by security guards.

But the victim added: “There are no cameras and there is no lighting in these car parks. I called the security number straight away and the phone was off and when I went over to the office it was shut and no one was there.

“I have had to pay a £400 excess on my insurance to have it fixed.”

Another victim added: “I felt sick when I saw the scratches on my car which were so deep it had almost made a hole and you could see the dust of the paint was still there.

“They have made great big swirls with a key. Loads of cars have been done.

“I’m a single mum and my car was a gift. I don’t have the money to repair it.

“People are furious. One guy has had his car a week, a 14 plate, and it’s wrecked - he is absolutely gutted.

“Everyone has been up to Estuary to complain and most of them don’t even care. It’s so frustrating. There should be cameras inside the car park not just around it.”

“You can see who is going in and out of them anyway, they need to be caught.”

A spokesman for Estuary Housing, said: “We have been speaking with residents about reports of damage to a number of cars parked in our underground car parks.

“In light of this, we have tasked our security team to pay particular attention to our underground car parks in the coming days.

“We are actively working with the police on this matter and would urge residents with any information to come forward.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Essex Police on 101.

A spokesman for Essex Police, said: “We received six reports of criminal damage to vehicles in the area around Kursaal Way, Southend, which happened overnight on Wednesday, March 27.

“Anyone with information should call the Southend local policing team on 101.”