The bucolic peace of an English village has been shattered by a spate of attacks by vandals using… baked beans.
Cans of the beans have been poured through letterboxes and over cars in picturesque Wonersh, Surrey – and residents are fed up.
Now police are urging anyone with information to spill the beans.
A mystery felon has been throwing baked beans over a car in the village of Wonersh, Surrey
The miscreant has dumped beans on doorsteps and poured them through the letterboxes of houses
Police said: 'Local officers have received reports of incidents in Wonersh where beans and other food have been poured on to residents’ front doors and cars overnight. The victims are understandably distressed by this unacceptable behaviour'
In one crime scene photo posted on Surrey Police’s Waverley Beat Facebook page, four empty cans of Heinz beans lie discarded near a doorstep with some of their contents on the ground nearby.
In another, baked beans deposited on the roof a grey car are seen dribbling down the driver’s side windows and doors, leaving lurid trails.
Reporting the crimes in an accompanying post, police said: ‘Local officers have received reports of incidents in Wonersh where beans and other food have been poured on to residents’ front doors and cars overnight. The victims are understandably distressed by this unacceptable behaviour.
‘Local officers will be patrolling the area and keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.’
A number of residents commented on the post, expressing concern.
‘Hope you catch those horrendous criminals – otherwise house prices in Wonersh will plunge,’ wrote Donna Sommerfield.
Mark Stanley quipped: ‘What half-baked idiots would do this? I hope they get thrown in the can! Absolutely Heinzous crime.’
Sparking a debate about the quality of different brands of baked beans, Penny Hawkins said: ‘At least they were Heinz – could have been worse.’
The parish is home to a population of just over 3,000 and is used to low levels of reported crime.
Given the strength of feeling about the bean attacks, those responsible could be toast if caught.