Garage owner ’embarrassed’ after customers’ cars are set alight

Ian Faulkner owns South Hants Garage in Southampton

Garage owner ’embarrassed’ after customers’ cars are set alight
Library photo © Bigstock

The owner of a garage says he’s ’embarrassed’ after three cars owned by customers were torched outside his business in Southampton.

Ian Faulkner of South Hants Garage Services told ITV News: ”I don’t think it’s actually sunk in yet. Obviously the embarrassment … we pride ourselves on looking after our customers and their vehicles, and there’s something like this which has gone out of our control.”

The attack on the garage was one of a number of incidents reported in the Empress Road area of Southampton during the early hours of Saturday 4 March.

Gurmel Singh, a fellow business owner, said he has tightened up security at his garage. ”I’m having to be more secure with my cars every night, trying to get them all in or park them somewhere else. It’s a bit scary.”

Acting Inspector Jabr Shaladan from the Southampton Central Neighbourhoods Policing Team told ITV News: “We are aware of the issues in Empress Road and have extensive plans in place to reduce crime in the area.

“Working with partners, we have secured funding for three additional CCTV cameras in Empress Road, which will help increase security on top of the extra patrols we carry out here regularly.

“We also are in the process of setting up a Businesswatch scheme in the area and will continue to raise the issues faced here – including abandoned cars – with our partners to make sure that together we are doing all we can to make the area safer for local businesses and residents.”

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