Many of the windows are rare.

The vehicles were intended for orders from overseas firms, Steve Edmonds, manager of T&I Engines in Racecourse Road, told the Mercury on Thursday.

Mr Edmonds was speaking soon after he arrived at the yard in the

morning, to gape at smashed windows in nearly every vehicle stored at the yard.

“I reckon we would be looking at a damage bill in excess of $150,000,” Mr Edmonds said.

“Each window is worth $1000. In one bus alone damage was about $12,000.

“With damage like this, of course overseas customers don’t want the

vehicles.

“The windows in many of our old buses are extremely rare too - you can’t go out and buy them anywhere.

“We often have to search overseas, in many European countries.”

Mr Edmonds said the Rutherford yard was the only bus and truck

wreckers between Brisbane and Sydney.

He believed the damage was caused by a “horde of kids” who scrambled through the fence during the night.

Among the damaged vehicles, he found the windows smashed in his own truck.

“These vandals could have been here for a couple of hours and

must have made some noise,” Mr Edmonds said. “We are hoping someone heard them or saw someone and may have information for the police.”

And he outlined plans to ensure vandals get a “warm welcome” if they strike again.

“We’re getting in guard dogs, employing security officer patrols and using cameras,” he said.

Anyone who knows anything about the vandalism should ring Maitland police on 4934 0200 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.