Metal thieves raid village allotments

Metal thieves are targeting allotment owners in two South Staffordshire villages, making off with hundreds of pounds worth of equipment.

A spate of recent thefts have seen sheds damaged and raided, a £500 rotavator stolen and tools thrown over the ground. Owners at Pendeford Mill Lane Allotments in Bilbrook are calling for nearby residents to help them in their fight against the perpetrators. Thieves have been reported as striking in the area on 11 occasions in the space of just eight weeks.

As well as the rotavator, items stolen include children's bikes, fencing and tools such as hammers, pliers and hand cutters. Several locks have also been damaged through forced entry.

Bilbrook resident and plot owner Paul Rea said the persistent thefts and vandalism had cast a grey cloud over the whole of the allotments, which caters for 30 plots.

He believes a professional metal gang could be operating in the area as the rotavator, weighing in at some 200lbs, would have taken four men to lift.

"It's hit us pretty hard," said the 45-year-old. A lot of people are very disheartened and disconsolate at what is happening. It's nobody's fault but we would ask people in nearby houses to be on their guard so that maybe these people can be caught.

"Police have been informed as it's happened a number of times in the past few weeks and we believe it may be metal thieves who are operating.

"This has greatly distressed many of the allotment holders and has cast a grey cloud over the whole of the allotments In Bilbrook."

In 2004 the thieves ransacked the site and burnt down a garden shed, nearly forcing it to close.