FIVE cars had their windows smashed over the weekend at a railway station car park that has been a hotspot for vehicle crime since it opened in 2015.

A set of golf clubs was taken from one of the cars at Apperley Bridge train station, according to British Transport Police (BTP).

A BTP spokesperson said: “We were called to Apperley Bridge station at 10.35am on Sunday, to reports that the windows of five cars had been smashed overnight.”

The latest incidents add to figures obtained late last year which showed recorded vehicle crimes at the Apperley Bridge station car park were almost three times higher than any other station in the district since it opened on December 13, 2015.

Joe Harrison, 27, of Guiseley, left his Volkswagen Golf in the car park, as he had done many times before, to come back to £650 worth of damage.

He said: “There was nothing to steal, but it’s not the point. If the powers that be want Apperley Bridge to thrive, then they need to make it more protected, as it’s becoming too frequent. And people will move out. It’s becoming ridiculous.”

Cllr Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle & Thackley) said: “Police told me CCTV is there and is used when crimes occur. We (the council) were assured at the time of the building that the CCTV would be useful.”

But, she said: “It’s not as good as it should be, across all stations – it’s not manned.”

Rob Tallant had a window on his Audi smashed at the station a few months ago, but the perpetrators didn’t take either the £5 change in his cup holder, or his £100 dashcam.

Instead, they ripped out the integrated entertainment system from inside the glove compartment in a move thought to be motivated by an urban myth that if the integrated system is used with a Sky Box, it allows free service.

Adam O’Melia, 34, of Yeadon, had his car broken into twice in one-week last October.

Mr O’Melia, who parks at the station to commute for work, came home one Thursday evening to find his window smashed and the integrated system missing. He said he was quoted £4,185 by Audi for fixing and rewiring it.

He said: “I didn’t think they’d do it again so I parked up on the Friday and left the glovebox open with the wires hanging out so they would know there was nothing there, but I was broke into again.”

He added: “The issue is, it’s secluded and is a ghost town between 10am and 3pm. It’s a robber’s paradise.”

In his opinion, the station needs a full-time security guard to stop crime. He also pointed to the irony of parking ticket wardens being frequently present at the station, saying: “If anyone parks somewhere that isn’t an allocated parking spot, there’s someone running around sticking parking fines on the cars. They obviously pay them, so why can’t that money be used for better protection?”

Mr O’Melia made a complaint to Northern Rail after his experience and was told in an email, seen by the Telegraph & Argus, that the station manager had been informed and that it hoped this would “lead to the reduction and complete prevention of damage to cars at the station.”

BTP are appealing for anyone who saw anything suspicious over the weekend, or who has information which they think could help, to call 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016 with reference 179 of 20 May.