Terrifying video footage shows how a family’s home was targeted by masked thugs on successive nights – with windows smashed and a vehicle ramming into cars outside.
In the first incident, a hooded figure can be seen trying to break into vehicles late at night before he is chased away by naked householder Aaron Thompson, 43, who did not even have time to put on any clothes.
Just a day later, further Ring doorbell footage shows the assailants returning to smash front windows then repeatedly drive into the Thompson family’s cars parked outside their home in Conisbrough, South Yorkshire.
A BMW Z4, BMW 1 series and BMW 3 series cars worth tens of thousands of pounds were written off, while a fourth car, a Hyundai i10, was left dented and with a scrape on the window.
Mr Thompson and his wife Rebecca, 47, both directors of a construction firm, said the incidents were the culmination of a ‘nightmare’ campaign of abuse which has left them ‘mentally destroyed’.
The couple say the trouble began after their 12-year-old Jackapoo dog, PJ, was mauled to death on January 2, when another dog managed to get inside their back garden.
The couple’s eldest daughter Ellie, 19, made attempts to rescue PJ but he suffered broken legs, a ripped jaw, and multiple puncture wounds to its upper and lower body.
He had to be put to sleep due to the severity of his injuries.
In the first incident, a hooded figure (pictured) tried to break into vehicles before being chased away by the homeowner – who had no time to put on any clothes
Homeowners Aaron Rebecca Thompson said the incidents were the culmination of a ‘nightmare’ campaign of abuse which has left them ‘mentally destroyed’
Just a day later, further Ring doorbell footage shows the assailants returning to smash front windows
A BMW Z4, BMW 1 series and BMW 3 series cars were written off following the incident, while a fourth car, a Hyundai i10, was left dented and with a scrape on the window
South Yorkshire Police investigated the attack but found no reason to seize the other dog.
Mrs Thompson said she had previous concerns about the same animal – which had previously lunged at Ellie while she was taking the rubbish out in October, in an incident which was also reported to the police.
Mrs Thompson, who also has an 11-year-old jackapoo dog called Pepsi, said: ‘My daughter feels like a prisoner in her own home and cannot access any outside areas due to the fear of attack.’
She added the teenager has suffered panic attacks since the event.
The attacks on the Thompsons’ home, on March 24 and 25, happened days after they launched a campaign last month, called Justice for PJ.
Mrs Thompson said the campaign was because she thought the police ‘weren’t doing enough’ about the other dog and wanted to ‘alert other people in the area to the danger and encourage them to come forward’ if they had suffered problems.
But police say there is no evidence to link the incidents.
Mrs Thompson, a wildlife volunteer in her spare time who helps the local hedgehog population, said: ‘Although this attack has made us stronger and work more as a unit, it has mentally destroyed us.
Aaron and Rebecca Thompson at home with jackapoo dogs PJ, left, and Pepsi, right
‘Lack of sleep is a torture. Seeing your kids cry daily is a nightmare.’
South Yorkshire Police said it was investigating criminal damage at the Thompsons’ home.
Explaining the action taken over the dog which the Thompsons say mauled PJ to death, Insp Steve Usher said: ‘The dog involved had not injured a person.
‘Seizing a dog is never a decision taken lightly but if an officer deems the dog to be a risk to others, it will be taken into police kennels.
‘As with every call we receive into our control room, it is risk assessed and when officers attend the scene they carry out a further risk assessment as to what danger the dog poses to those living in the home or surrounding community.
‘In this case, the owner of the dog was made aware that if their dog was to commit further fear or injury, it could be seized, and agreed to work with our officer, engaging in restorative justice, completing a Responsible Dog Ownership Course with the Blue Cross Charity, and putting measures in place to ensure the dog could not cause injury or fear.’
