Three teenagers were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after being found by police throwing lights off a roof into incoming traffic this week.

Two fourteen-year-olds and one fifteen-year-old climbed the scaffolding of the Royal Castle Hotel on Monday evening and gained access to the roof space. They were then spotted by members of the Dartmouth Police team throwing lights from the Royal Castle Hotel roof onto the road below.

The three youths are known to the police for committing previous offences just as damaging the public toilets in the Royal Avenue Gardens and joyriding in a Stagecoach bus at the park and ride.

All three boys from the Dartmouth area were persuaded to come down off the roof by members of the police and were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

They were found committing the crime and will possibly be charged with criminal damage and offences to public order. Since the crime the teenagers have been released by the police under investigation.

Upon arresting the teenagers the police sized their mobile phones and found a video of the boys being rude to an elderly individual.

Prior to this the police have been working with youth and social services, plus the youths parents to try and stop their crime wave of behaviour.

However, now the police are looking into the possibility of taking the youths to court.

Dartmouth Police said the children’s parents are in support of the police using their power to try and prevent the boys committing further damage.

The police described the youth’s actions as an “escalation” of crime. It is believed the three boys were also involved in theft, intimidating shop owners, harassing shop staff, damaging signs and smashing the windows at the look out tower at the park and ride over the last few months.

The police have asked if any witnesses saw anything at around 7pm on Monday, January 29, when the incident occurred or if anyone noticed any damage to vehicles.

To report any information please contact the police on 101 using the reference CR/008807/19.