Raiders leave trail of distruction on allotments

Raiders left a trail of devastation after breaking into sheds at an allotments site in a Staffordshire village.

They stole tools and wheelbarrows and even took the metal frames from three greenhouses.

Police say the allotments in Rugeley Road, Armitage, were ransacked by thieves looking for precious items and scrap metal.

The site was left covered in glass.

Two Armitage district councillors have spoken out over the mindless crime saying the worst part of is the amount of time people spend making their allotments nice.

Allotment holder George Lewis, aged 75, had recently fixed two greenhouses together which were both taken and spent an enormous amount of time on his plot. After the incident, overnight between Monday and Tuesday (22/23), last week, the site was left covered in glass and trampled plants.

Councillor Richard Cox said: "I would term these people as callous, nasty individuals. A lot of people have put a lot of hard effort in to growing their own vegetables, for these people to come along and destroy them. I couldn't be any more angry.

Councillor Thomas Marshall said the crime was 'unacceptable' and 'extremely annoying'.

He said: "I would like to think we live in a village where this kind of thing doesn't happen."

Staffordshire Police spokesman Carol Evans said: "The thieves would have been there for some time and the chances are they were seen by somebody, either people driving past or possibly dog walkers.

"Anyone who may have seen a vehicle such as a van or a pick-up truck at the scene, or who has been offered any scrap metal or greenhouses for sale, should get in touch with police immediately.

"It is particularly disappointing that a community facility such as this has been targeted in such a way."

Anyone with any information should contact police on 0300 1234455, quoting crime reference number 368 of November 23, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.