A Bitterne Park resident has told of being targeted five times in two years by burglars, who have scared a whole street into buying security cameras.
A family living on Northfield Road, who did not wish to be named, said that they were first stolen from two years ago, when burglars managed to steal three bikes from their garden.
They had no high gates or any sort of deterrents back then as crime on the road was relatively low.
But after the bike theft, they installed cameras in the front and back garden and an alarm on the shed.
READ MORE: Warning as cow charges and jumps at man: 'it could have killed me'
The resident said: “The second time that they tried, they walked up to our front and brought loads of tools. Another time they literally parked outside our drive on a motorbike!”
The Northfield Road native has also now installed two tall locked gates when they previously had an open garden.
In the latest attempt on Sunday October 20 at 4.30am, the burglar climbed over their fence as the gates were in the way.
The resident also noted that on one attempt, the burglar saw the newly-installed alarm and walked away, putting their mind at ease for the night but prompting neighbours to purchase similar deterrents.
READ MORE: Neighbours want telegraph poles axed - even though they could lose internet
“I’m looking at a neighbour’s house right now and I can see they’ve got a camera now,” the resident said.
“It’s not nice, it’s scary and all of the neighbours are feeling the exact same. I know that another one of our neighbours has gone and brought cameras yesterday.
The resident said they called the police immediately after each attempt to ask for patrols to scour the area, and they also noted that the community wants to start a neighbourhood watch group on WhatsApp.
A Hampshire police spokesperson said: “We are carrying out enquiries into one report of burglary and one report of attempted burglary on Northfield Road in Southampton.
“Sometime between 10pm on Saturday 19 October and 8.30am on Sunday 20 October entry was forced to a shed at a residential address and a bicycle was stolen.
“Shortly before 5am on Sunday 20 October an attempt was made to break into a shed at a second property. Nothing was taken.
“Officers are currently investigating these incidents and the local policing team will be increasing patrols in the area.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel