ALLOTMENTS

Sadly seen in Featherstone over the last 3 years has been a growing trend to burgle allotments. The thefts have developed in this time with increased regularity and organisation.
Unless British thieves have actually managed to get their act together it is fairly likely that travellers have considering the witness reports so far.
Last Thursday night what looks to be a well organised gang hit Castleford Cutsyke Road and Featherstone Green Lane allotments. Approximately 20 allotments on each site were broken in to. What is clear is the huge scale of the operation. We are talking about over 40 padlocks precisely removed and over 40 allotments searched and stolen from. This had to take time, man power and more than one vehicle considering the quantity and variation of items stolen ranging from live stock and scrap metal. Sadly as this is classed as “burglary other” it has less serious response.
What is clear is that someone is creating a plan of where to rob and how to escape without detection. The new Green Lane link road has now added 4 separate allotment sites to a quick getaway. Considering the large numbers of Police attending Thirsk Auctions this weekend it would be reasonable to assume the problem is not just local and is a growing problem.
A minimum of 3 more CCTV cameras are now desperately needed between Featherstone, Castleford and the M62. Considering all the development there has to be free money available unless someone has taken all that also. Featherstone could act immediately as there has been a spare connection point in place for a remote portable camera since the installation of its CCTV system as breakthrough in crime prevention. Sadly no remote camera ever appeared.
This type of theft will happen again shortly in Featherstone. If you see any suspicious vehicles especially vans parked near a Featherstone allotment late and early please take the time to call 101.