Cleveland Police saying nail trap thugs could 'potentially' be leftwith a criminal record

Quite right too!

QUOTE:
A number of the comments on the Cleveland Police Facebook page have took (SIC) issue with the warning that offenders could be 'potentially' be left with a criminal record for planting nail traps in wooded areas. Hopefully it will be considerably more than a slap on the wrist for those responsible if they are caught...

Earlier this month, images of these shocking traps buried in the woods went viral after a cyclist was forced to call for a lift home when the traps punctured both of his tyres; and it's now reached the sad state of affairs where police are asking the public to be "cautious", because it's believed more have been planted, and will continue to be planted over the weekend. People are also still posting more pictures of traps across social media.

Marske woods today, well placed tree layed over a trail, someone is going to get seriously hurt soon. ++++Cleveland Police also added that anyone caught planting traps will be arrested.+++ The Independent (link is external) spoke to Mary Lanigan, leader of Redcar and Cleveland District Council, who believes the campaign is most likely the work of warped self-styled 'vigilantes' who take issue with people exercising in rural areas during the pandemic. She said: “This isn’t the work of kids. They started appearing not long after the lockdown so I’m not sure it’s a coincidence but … whoever it is, it is shocking. It is stupid. What they’re doing, it could cause unimaginable injury to someone. It has to stop.�

“People have a right to exercise here. If the people putting these horrific traps think they may be helping in some way, all they will do is add to the pressures on our hospitals.�

Yesterday, police in North Yorkshire said they were interviewing two women who admitted on camera to planting traps when they were confronted by a 17-year-old cyclist.

https://road.cc/content/news/cycling...-node-comments