Plastic covers the damaged panes of glass near the Food Court at the Castle Mall. Picture: Denise Bradley

Nearly 30 windows at the food court at Norwich’s Castle Mall shopping centre have been vandalised, causing £20,000 worth of damage, and bosses have installed more CCTV cameras, added extra lighting and stepped up patrols to prevent it happening again.

Bosses at the centre believe that the same vandals are responsible for all of the damage which occurred when stones or pebbles were thrown at the windows on three separate occasions last month.

The Evening News is offering a reward of £500 to anyone with information that leads to the conviction of those responsible.

Meanwhile, temporary repairs have been made to the 28 damaged windows, which back on to the castle gardens, and the area has been cordoned off with tape.

Police are investigating the incident and studying CCTV footage of potential suspects.

The Castle Mall’s general manager Amanda Phillips said: “The new owners of Castle Mall were disappointed that mindless vandals carried out this damage. We have obviously been in touch with our insurers and police are investigating what happened.

“We believe that the breakages were caused on three separate occasions in August, and it’s believed that the same people carried out the attacks.

“The delay in replacing the windows is down to their location. High level glazing needs experts, so it’s not a quick, clean fix. We estimate that the damage caused is about £20,000.”

Bosses at the centre have added more CCTV cameras and additional lamps to light up the castle gardens more at night, since the incidents. Staff have also stepped up patrols of the area in a bid to deter it happening again.

A Norfolk police spokesman said: “We have been working closely with Castle Mall to offer crime prevention advice. No-one has been arrested for any of these offences, and we would appeal to anyone with information to get in touch with police by calling 101. Anyone who sees any suspicious activity in the area should also contact police.”

As reported, the shopping mall was bought in July by London-based InfraRed Capital Partners from previous owner The Mall Fund for £77.3m and the new owner pledged investment adding “considerable value” to the centre.

Has your business been the recent victim of vandals? Call reporter David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.