The menacing gang of environmental vigilantes deflated dozens of tyres in an evening of vandalism - and now 'outraged' locals have had their say
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Residents in a posh area targeted by so-called Tyre Extinguishers have expressed fury at the group's brazen tactics. Last week, we revealed the menacing gang of environmental vigilantes had deflated dozens of tyres on SUVs in Dickens Heath.
The group was said to have let down the wheels of 35 vehicles in the well-heeled Solihull village. Letters left on windscreens following the March 20 operation dubbed "vain" 4x4 drivers a "disaster for the planet".
And protesters even suggested they could be back to cause more chaos. In a cocky tweet, they boasted: "Nice one! Keep it up."
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Now, locals have hit back and slammed what they called "vandalism". It was claimed as many as six cars were picked out on one road - forcing a neighbour to go around with a PUMP and get drivers on their way.
Elaine Enderby, 70, from nearby Monkspath, said she believed the action was "outrageous and totally unreasonable". She said: "I personally find it quite offensive these vigilantes think they can just do that because tyres are so expensive.
"How ethically minded are they to saving the planet anyway? It just seems a vicious attack."
Elaine and other residents pointed out the so-called "extinguishers" can't know the circumstances of those they choose to target. Some neighbours said elderly people with mobility issues often needed larger cars.
But Stuart, a drinker at the popular Mortons bar, told how the gang had failed to keep motorists off the road for long.
“People weren’t happy but they weren’t stabbing the tires they were only letting them down," he said. "One of the guys from a local Dickens Heath page went around with a little pump. He was pumping people’s tyres back up for them."
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said she feared her in-laws would struggle to attend hospital appointments if their SUV was targeted.
"My father-in-law has just had a stroke so my mother-in-law would have to get him to hospital," she said. “They haven’t got the right to go around touching other people’s property to make a point.
"I don’t agree with it. You don’t know what people are dealing with and that’s wrong. They need to target the people who make the decisions on these vehicles.
"You are not going to change the world by targeting individuals. You’ve got to go to the bigger picture."
And Bernie O’Toole, 56, an HGV driver, added: "Who gives them the right to take the moral high ground? I think it’s appalling,”
The Tyre Extinguishers website read: "Deflating tyres repeatedly and encouraging others to do the same will turn the minor inconvenience of a flat tyre into a giant obstacle for driving massive killer vehicles around our streets.
"We’re taking this action because governments and politicians have failed to protect us from these huge vehicles. Everyone hates them apart from the people who drive them.
"We want to live in towns and cities with clean air and safe streets. Politely asking and protesting for these things has failed."
West Midlands Police Inspector Angus McPherson said: "The local neighbourhood team supported by other teams have carried out CCTV inquiries and have been speaking to witnesses."
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