ANGRY allotment owners who have had thousands of pounds of equipment stolen during a string of break-ins have urged the council to tighten security.

Thieves targeted three allotment sites in St John’s last week in five separate break-ins causing damage to more than 50 sheds and stealing over £4,000 of equipment.

Residents and allotment owners in St John’s have joined a call alongside ward councillors Richard Udall and Robyn Norfolk to make the sites more secure.

West Mercia Police inspected the sites together with Cllr Udall and made several recommendations on how the city’s allotments could be made securer with the St John’s councillor encouraging the council to follow them.

This included replacing locks and gates that were called “not fit for purpose” by police and more lighting.

Cllr Udall said allotment security had always been – and most likely would always be – an issue in Worcester but it was now at its worst state in the more than 30 years he had been a councillor.

“There is a distinct problem that needs to be addressed,” he said during a meeting of Worcester City Council’s environment committee on Tuesday.

“There have been five break-ins on allotment sites in the west of Worcester in the past week with Oldbury Road, Windsor Avenue and Bromwich Road allotment sites all targeted with over £4,000 of equipment stolen.

“All fifty sheds on one site were broken into and considerable damage caused.”

Last week, Cllr Udall condemned the attacks on the allotment sites and the extensive damage caused.

Sheds, doors and gates were smashed during the break-ins with polytunnels and other equipment including lawn mowers damaged and stolen.

Speaking to the Worcester News earlier this week, Cllr Udall said: “Allotments have always been vulnerable to break-ins, but the sustained attacks, is unprecedented.

“Allotment holders work long and hard to care for their allotments, they don't deserve to be attacked in such a despicable way. The parasites who are responsible need to be caught, anyone with information, I would urge to come forward and share it with us.”