ALLOTMENT holders in Devizes are considering putting in CCTV after thieves struck for the second time in a few months.

Raiders using bolt cutters broke into 58 sheds on allotments in Green Lane last Thursday night.

Allotment manager Albert Wooldridge said: “Allotment holders are fuming about this. It is the second time it has happened and we need to do something about security.”

He said it appeared the thieves knew what they were looking for as they took very little despite breaking into so many sheds.

Mr Wooldridge, who is also a Roundway parish councillor, said: “Last time they took strimmers and were quite clever as they stored them in a shed that wasn’t being used and put a lock on it.

“I only noticed as I knew that plot wasn’t being used. This time I think they might have been looking for strimmers again as a lot of other tools were left behind.”

The thieves used cutters to make a large hole in the gate to the allotments and also cut their way into the sheds.

Mr Wooldridge said: “There was a lot of damage done to the sheds. We had made them more difficult to get into after the previous break-ins in May, but when they couldn’t get in the doors they tore off panels.

“It must have been planned as most people don’t normally go walking around with bolt cutters.”

A lawn mower was taken from one of the sheds and removed from the site through the hole cut in the gate but then abandoned in a nearby field.

Allotment holder Karen Haddrell-Forth discovered the break-ins on Friday morning and immediately rang Mr Wooldridge, who alerted the police.

The allotments are managed by Roundway Parish Council and its chairman, Chris Callow, said: “I am very upset and angry. People work very hard on their allotments and it is terrible when this sort of thing happens.”

A meeting to discuss the thefts is to be held by allotment holders tomorrow evening. Mr Wooldridge said they would discuss putting in CCTV designed to send an alert to a mobile phone if there was any unexpected activity.

Sgt Vincent Logue, of Devizes police, said: “We received a report that around 58 allotment sheds had been broken into. It is not yet known what, if any, property has been stolen. Officers attended the scene and left notes asking for the owners to make contact. I would ask that anyone with information calls 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. PC Chris Mead is investigating.”