YOBS armed with a knife went on an overnight rampage as they slashed tyres on six cars.

The vandals, thought to be carrying Stanley knives, targeted the cars in Gurdon Road, Colchester.

Victims woke to find the damage and immediately called Essex Police.

The force received six reports within three hours and officers are officially linking the incidents.

Dave Harris, who is Colchester councillor for Berechurch, labelled the behaviour “mindless”.

He said: “It was a seemingly random thing.

“People left their cars outside as they always do and arrived back in the morning to find their tyres had been slashed.

“The victims are not connected so it wasn’t a targeted attack - it appears to be a mindless act of vandalism but people are being very wary.”

Mr Harris (Lab) has joined forces with fellow Berechurch councillors Chris Pearson and Martyn Warnes to revive a neighbourhood watch group in the area which had not met for many years.

He added: “There is very little trouble there.

“It is mostly settled people who have been on the estate for a long time - they are people who look out for each other.

“I am very much hoping it was an isolated incident but we’re urging everyone to be on their guard.

“A lot of people have CCTV in front of their homes these days so we’re asking people to check that if they have any footage which might be helpful.

“Even if it doesn’t catch people in the act, it might give police a more exact time it happened with security lights coming on at certain times.”

Mr Harris added: “Our biggest worry is actually that slashing tyres is not an easy job so we think this person, or people, had something like a Stanley knife with them.

“That means they were armed as well.”

An Essex Police spokesman said the incidents of criminal damage have all been linked an are under investigation.

During the spree - which took place overnight between Monday January 8 and Tuesday January 9 - the vandals targeted six cars, including a grey Hyundai Tucson, a red Citroen C3, a red Fiat Panda, a white Vauxhall Meriva.

A meeting of the new neighbourhood watch group will be held in Plum Hall, off Berechurch Road, Colchester.

A date and time are yet to be set.

Anyone with information on the incidents should called Essex Police on 101.

Alternatively, information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or via the website on crimestoppers-uk.org.