THE owner of one of five cars whose petrol pipes were cut in a Cinderford car park says she might have perished if the fuel ignited when she tried to start it.
The five cars were all attacked in the car park for residents of Forest View Park in Valley Road, Cinderford, on Sunday.
The woman, who does not want to be named for fear of reprisals, said: "I couldn't see my pipe had been cut and climbed in and tried to start it. It was only when it wouldn't go I felt something was wrong.
"I dread to think what would have happened if a spark had caught the petrol, or if someone had come along and thrown a cigarette end down. It is so mindless and very dangerous.
"Five cars were hit and have had to be towed away to be fixed and the fire service came out to wash all the petrol away – they were brilliant, but the tarmac has been badly damaged.
"I work for a nursing agency and I have had to pull out of shifts because I cannot get to work – I have already lost two days' pay."
Police Inspector David Pickstock of Cinderford Police said fuel thefts were fairly common although lorry and coach depots were usually targeted for diesel.
He agreed that cutting petrol lines was dangerous and worrying, but said the police were carrying out routine vehicle checks for siphoning equipment and the like.
"It is probably one or two individuals who are not very bright and certainly don't give any thought to the consequences," he said.
"We ask people to be on the lookout for unfamiliar vehicles parked or cruising in their area – if they see anything suspicious, call us on 01452 335551.