EXCLUSIVE

A FRUSTRATED allotment holder has been ordered to remove a barbed wire fence he erected to keep thieves from plundering his plot – in case they injure themselves climbing in!

Gardeners struggling to avoid the credit crunch by growing their own vegetables are being targeted by thieves.

Over the past 18 months sheds have been broken into, thousands of pounds worth of tools stolen and produce destroyed at Round Hill allotments in Marlbrook.

One man eventually put barbed wire around his plot, but council officers told him to take it down.

Bill Malcolm said: “I was told it might scratch someone breaking into my allotment – they’re having a joke.”

He said two thirds of the 50 allotment holders on the site have suffered some sort of vandalism or theft.

“They cut the locks on our sheds, or break in through the windows. I caught one lad of about 16 red-handed. He dropped the bag of tools and fled, but although the police took a description and finger prints, I heard nothing,”

Mr Malcolm said he and his fellow gardeners had made repeated calls to the council. A spokesman said: “With regard to the barbed wire, when this is identified on site – we are obliged to request its removal on health and safety grounds to the general public.This is a requirement enforced by our health and safety department.”

But Mr Malcolm pointed out that his allotment is not open to the general public. The council also stressed the allotment land was part of a green belt area and is surrounded by post and rail fencing, in keeping with the nature of the area. Due to its rural location, the council admitted the site was vulnerable to thefts, but tenants were responsible for keeping their own plots secure. The spokesman also denied receiving any other reports of theft apart from Mr Malcolm's but said he would be monitoring the situation.

Sergeant Nick Husbands of Bromsgrove police said: “We can confirm five thefts from Round Hill allotments have been reported in the last year.

“These have mainly been from sheds and our advice to allotment holders is not to leave anything of value there. Expensive items like strimmers should be taken home.

“Patrols have been increased and crime prevention advice has been given. We are also encouraging residents to postcode their tools, for example with SmartWater, which uses a colourless liquid containing a chemical marker similar to DNA.

Witnesses or anyone with information about crime at the allotments should contact Sgt Husbands on 08457 4448888 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.