Letchworth allotment owners are being urged to be vigilant by police after a series of break-ins.

There have been a spate of crimes towards the end of 2017 at the allotments in Icknield Way, and police are today appealing for information and are asking people to secure their sheds and outbuildings.

The first incident reported happened between Saturday, November 11, and Sunday, November 19, when offenders forced their way into a locked shed and stole a hose, a shovel and a wheelbarrow before running off in an unknown direction.

The next break-in recorded was between Saturday, November 18, and Saturday, December 2, when offenders forced their way into another locked shed before leaving the scene empty handed.

A third incident happened between Saturday, December 2, and Tuesday, December 19, when offenders broke into another shed which was locked. Nothing was stolen from inside, but a sign which had been hanging outside it was taken.

PC Caroline Fathers from the Letchworth Safer Neighbourhood Team said: “We are becoming concerned about the recent spate of thefts and break-ins to the allotments on Icknield Way.

“I would urge anyone who tends to these allotments regularly to keep an eye out for any suspicious behaviour and to report anything that seems untoward to us via the police non-emergency number 101. If you see a crime in progress please dial 999.

“I’d also like to speak to anyone who has witnessed someone acting suspiciously in the area, or if anyone has an idea of who could be responsible for the most recent offences, please get in touch.”

The Letchworth Safer Neighbourhood Team is holding a tool marking event outside Screwfix in Letchworth this Thursday between 10am and 2pm.

The team now has equipment which allows them to engrave tools or gardening equipment free of charge to help make them more easily identifiable and less attractive to thieves. Officers will also be able to mark possessions with bright coloured paint or ultraviolet paint.