Catapult thugs menace to town

Youngsters are using catapults to hurl stones and even paint balls at cars and property, with reported incidents rocketing.

Now the weapons are being confiscated by police as part of a Christmas crackdown.

Police chiefs are warning that far from being an old-fashioned toy, a catapult is a dangerous weapon and their use will not be tolerated.

A teenager has already been arrested, reprimanded and had his catapult taken after being caught using it.

Officers are urging parents not to buy one as a "stocking filler" for youngsters because of the rise in reported incidents of items being fired at cars and property.

The warning comes just weeks after Chief Inspector Chris Bithell said lives were being put at risk by yobs hurling missiles at people and motorists.

Police say the stone throwing is now less common after 169 incidents were reported in one month alone. In one incident a bus driver was hit in the eye after a plastic bottle was thrown through his window.

Officers have stepped up high-visibility patrols and gone undercover to ride in taxis and on buses in a bid to catch culprits.

Insp Dave Croll, of Burnley Police, said: "The latest emerging trend would appear to be catapults. We are having windows broken and cars hit."

The 16-year-old youth was arrested at 9.20pm on Sunday in Padiham Road.

Insp Croll added: "You would be hard-pressed to justify having a catapult and are likely to be arrested and reprimanded. It's not a toy and there are serious repercussions for people who use them.

"Parents should not think that it's a harmless toy. We are having incidents of damage and it could cause serious injury to someone if it's aimed at them. The consequences can be severe. Don't have it as a stocking filler.

"The good news is reported stone throwing incidents has been significantly reduced."

Police are also considering touring school assemblies to warn youngsters of the dangers of catapults.