A Scottish mum and her three children have been left homeless after joyriders ploughed into her home earlier this week.
A police probe is underway after images emerged of a BMW 4x4 driving straight into the side of a home in Kirkcaldy on Monday, April 25, at 8:30am.
The incident occurred at Sharon Herd's home on Clarimalt Drive, with the incident captured on a neighbour's ring doorbell camera. The car travelled at speed into the house before two men clambered from the wreckage and fled the scene.
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The Daily Record reports that Sharon, 31, had a lucky escape as her and her three young boys were not home at the time of the incident, but they've been forced to move out after the property was deemed unsafe.
Sharon said that she had been at her mum's house with her boys Calum, eight, Kai, five, and Mason, two, getting ready for school.
She said: "Usually I’d be in the house around 8am, but my mum hasn't been well recently so I've been going up in the morning more often.
"The car drove into the street and crashed into my house at full force.
"It smashed through the side of my house where my stairs and downstairs toilet are.
"Had we been home, myself or my kids would have been hit as they all get ready for school in that toilet."
"My neighbour called me to see if we were home and I arrived there 10 minutes later to ambulances, fire services and police everywhere."
Footage shared with the Daily Record shows the speeding car smashing into the side of the house.
One man is seen exiting the car from the driver's side and sprinting off, whilst another scrambles from the passenger side. Stunned neighbours then come out of their homes and rush to the scene of the incident.
Sharon and her three boys are now living at her mother's home and have been unable to return to the council property to collect their belongings. Fears that the building may collapse have also led to Sharon's neighbours being evacuated.
It's currently unclear when the family will be able to return to the property.
Fife Council offered the family emergency accommodation at a B&B but two of Sharon's sons have autism and wouldn't be able to cope in a cramped room together.
The family are sleeping on Sharon's mum's floor while they wait for a temporary two bedroom house to be ready for them.
Sharon said: "I’m not allowed inside my house as it’s so unstable and could collapse.
"I have no belongings for myself or my children as everything I own is in the house. The council took the keys and the locks were changed to stop anyone getting in.
"Fife Council wanted to place us in a B&B but my sons have autism so they wouldn’t settle in a small room and would possibly destroy it during meltdowns.
"They have now offered me a two bed house temporarily but it won’t be ready for sometime yet so I am sleeping on my mother's living room floor with my three children.
"My two eldest boys are autistic and rely on routine. This has devastated them.
"Not knowing what has been damaged inside our home is difficult for them to deal with."
Sharon, a full time carer to her mother and children, added: "I’m a single parent and have brought my kids up alone so the one thing I have to be proud of is the home I built with my kids - and now it’s gone.
"I don’t know when I'll get back into my house but it’s looking like it could be several months.
"The council have helped me as much as possible but there is only so much they can do so.
"I just have to rely on the help from my family and the kids school."
Officers say their enquiries to trace those responsible remain ongoing.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Officers received report of a car having struck a property on Clarimalt Drive in Kirkcaldy. No-one was injured as a result of the crash and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.”
Housing Manager with Fife Council Elaine Campbell said the council stepped in to support the families affected following Monday’s incident.
“We’ve offered emergency accommodation and financial help if it was needed as it wasn’t safe to allow people back into their homes.
“Engineers are now working on site and we’re waiting for their report to confirm when it will be safe for people to get into their houses. We’re keeping in touch with everyone affected to keep them updated on progress during this difficult time.”
