English cricketer and Hampshire captain James Vince has made a public appeal over the persistent attacks on his property which have resulted in his family being forced to leave their hometown of Southampton. For almost eight years, Vince and his family enjoyed the tranquility of their home in a village east of Southampton. That peace was shattered earlier this year when Vince’s home and vehicles were targeted in two shocking attacks, forcing the family to flee and live in fear. The first attack occurred in the early hours of April 15. Vince, 33, recounted the harrowing experience: “My wife and I woke up suddenly to a series of loud bangs and alarms going off. We had no idea what was going on and it was obviously very unnerving so we ran straight to get the kids to make sure they were safe. They were very shaken,” Vince told The Telegraph.
When the police arrived, the attackers had already disappeared, leaving a trail of destruction. A neighbor reported seeing a car speeding away from the scene.
Damage to the cars and home was extensive, prompting the family to temporarily move while repairs were made. Security cameras and alarms were installed, but the sense of security was irrevocably undermined.
This footage provided by Hampshire captain James Vince shows an unprovoked attack on his home.
Vince’s property was vandalized on two separate occasions (April 15 and May 11), forcing his family to leave.
He is appealing for anyone with information to come to Hampshire Police. pic.twitter.com/Oct9BDTocb
-Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) July 16, 2024
Just a week after returning home, Vince’s worst fears were realized when a second attack occurred on May 1st. This time, he was still awake upstairs. “This meant I was able to descend quickly and had a better sense of what was going on. It wasn’t a surprise either, because it had happened before. I think they saw the activity in the house and left quickly,” he explained.
The attackers used bricks, once again breaking the windows of the cars and the house. Vince detailed how the family had just returned from a charity dinner for teammate Chris Wood when the attack happened around midnight.
The incidents confused Vince and the authorities. Despite extensive investigations by police, private security personnel and intelligence companies, no clear motive has emerged. Vince remains convinced that the attacks are a case of mistaken identity. “Every expert we’ve talked to says it seems to be a money issue, unpaid debts or something like that,” Vince said. “We have nothing to hide and we know we have never been involved in anything like this. We desperately want this to stop.”
Images from new security cameras provided some clues. It shows a man with a torch passing bricks over a wall to another man, who throws them at the house and cars. The second man was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the Gym King logo and his face was covered. This, Vince hopes, could be important information in identifying the culprits.
The attacks coincidentally occurred on days when Hampshire had home games, adding another layer of mystery. Despite reinforced security measures, the family remains nervous, fearing a third attack. “We don’t want to risk the same thing happening again,” Vince said. “It’s not fair that my wife or my children have to go through this again.”
The emotional toll on the family was immense, especially on Vince’s young children. “Something like this is extremely upsetting to our lives, especially to our children, who have been understandably affected and disturbed by the situation. That being said, I’m surprised and extremely proud of how they handled it. We have received great support locally and from cricket,” shared Vince.
The family has now turned to the public for help, hoping someone recognizes the attackers or has information that could solve the mystery. “If anyone knows anything or sees anything in the footage of the attack that could lead to anything, please contact us or Hampshire Police. It could be the final information we need to figure out what’s going on and get our lives back to normal,” Vince insisted.
Hampshire Police confirmed the incidents, stating: “Two incidents of criminal damage at one address during the early hours of April 15 and May 11. On both occasions, two cars were damaged and the front room windows were broken.”
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This story originally appeared on ndtv.com read the full story