A dangerous surge in reports of stones thrown at cars travelling through St Albans is being investigated by Herts Police.

In the last month there have been 19 incidents on the A414 and Colney Heath Lane reported to the police.

They are looking into four separate incidences in Colney Heath Lane on Wednesday evening (February 22) – but so far no one has been hurt.

One was lobbed at 6.45pm and three at 7.35pm - three of the instances caused the victim’s side window to smash while they were driving.

In the past two months, the Herts Advertiser has reported on nine other separate reports of this crime.

On January 26 at about 8pm seven cars were damaged, on January 30 at 7.30pm a coach had two windows smashed, and at 6.51pm the next day a Jaguar X-type was hit.

These happened along the A414 – Colney Heath Lane is connected to that road.

Sgt Rory Arnott, from the St Albans Safer Neighbourhood Team, said this crime is “extremely dangerous” and could “cause serious injury and potentially put lives at risk”.

In 2004, an Essex man was given a six year sentence for manslaughter after he threw a brick through a lorry driver’s windscreen, causing the victim to have a heart attack and die.

Sgt Arnott added: “Thankfully in these most recent cases no-one has been injured.

“We are conducting extensive enquiries to identify the people responsible for these mindless acts of criminal damage and, as part of this, patrols have been increased in the local area.”

Anyone with information should call the police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.