Explosives were placed inside the machines in Southover High Street and Abergavenny Road during the Bank Holiday weekend, causing damage estimated at £4,200.
One of the machines, the one in Southover High Street, was almost completely destroyed and will have to be replaced. The other has already been repaired.
East Sussex County Council's Director of Transport and Environment, Rupert Clubb, said: “Whoever committed this mindless crime should know they risk jail. As well as the potential to maim or kill a passer-by, this vandalism costs the people of Lewes, who will end up footing the bill.”
Charges for permits and pay and display parking in Lewes had to be increased in April 2007 because of a series of attacks on parking meters over a two year period, which cost more than £300,000 to replace or repair. Parking schemes are required to be self-financing, so there is no alternative than to recover these costs through higher charges.
Chief Inspector Natalie Carron, Lewes District Commander, stated: “Someone will know who is responsible for this. It could be your family, friend or child that gets seriously injured. Come forward and let us put a stop to it now.”
Anyone with information about these incidents, or knows who is responsible for them, is urged to contact Sussex Police on 0845 60 70 999 quoting Op Magee or call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
There is a £5,000 reward for information leading to arrest and charge.
Further information
The Southover High Street machine was attacked on the night of Friday 1 May and the Abergavenny Road machine was attacked on the night of Saturday 2 May. No money was stolen from the machines during the attacks. The machines are valued at about £3,000 each.
Reference:
PR 2393
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