A high-tension string trap strung across a road in Taradale on Tuesday night had been set at a height which could have killed a cyclist or motorcyclist.
As it turned out, the reinforced twine left two cars with frontal damage and their owners angry and horrified at what could have happened if someone on two wheels had struck it first.
"It was at about chest height," one of the drivers, Taradale man Shaun McPherson said.
"There are cyclists out there day and night and some clip along at a good speed - this could have decapitated them."
Mr McPherson was travelling along Church Rd heading north about 11.20pm when he picked up the twine in the headlights at the last moment. There was no time to avoid it and he heard it "ping" as it hammered into the front of the car before snapping. He pulled up and spotted another car nearby, the driver was on the phone to the police. "The same thing had happened to him only a minute or so earlier - whoever did this quickly went and strung it up again and got me."