Officers are hunting a woman who was caught on CCTV scaling a fence while wearing a devil mask before allegedly pouring acid over cars in a tiny Gloucestershire village.
Tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused to six cars belonging to residents in St Briavels, Forest of Dean, which is home to just over 1,000 people.
The middle-aged woman, who donned a curly black wig along with the terrifying mask, is suspected to have hurled acid onto a villager’s Land Rover Freelander, with stark pictures showing the strength of the paint-stripping substance.
In an odd twist, she is also suspected of posting pornographic material through residents letterboxes and catflaps in the middle of the night.
Both the mask and the wig were discovered abandoned, and residents have pooled their resources, offering a £2,000 reward to anyone who catches the perpetrator.
Locals claim she is a resident left angry over a planning dispute, as the victims all sit on the parish council and on the village hall committee, according to residents.
Victim John Hurley, a semi-retired music teacher, found his Renault Megane Scenic damaged in an attack which stripped the green paint down to the metal, and melted the plastic wipers and headlamps.
Hurley, 73, said: “Luckily I was aware of the previous attacks so as soon as I saw it I knew straight away what it was.
“If I hadn’t known and touched it, it would have been disastrous. I teach music and the acid would have damaged my fingers.
“It’s devastating to think there are people in our community who could do such a thing.”
It is feared that copycat attackers may also be on the loose, as another resident captured CCTV footage of a young man donning a scarf and hoodie, before covering their vehicle in acid.
One resident has reportedly left the village after their motor home was attacked.
Gloucestershire Police said in a statement: “On Friday, March 22 we received a report of criminal damage in the St Briavels area where unknown offenders had poured acid over a car.
“The car, a Renault Megane Scenic, was extensively damaged during the incident, which happened between 6pm on Thursday March 21 and 10.25am the following day.
“Anyone with information is asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 101 quoting incident 212 of March 22.”