Councillor's CCTV call after veg thieves strike at Burnley allotment (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Councillor's CCTV call after veg thieves strike at Burnley allotment

2:40pm Thursday 14th August 2008 in News By Chris Hopper, Reporter

VICTIM: County Coun Tony Martin at the allotment in Woodgrove Road, Burnley, where vegetables were stolen

A BURNLEY councillor has demanded CCTV be installed — after thieves stole vegetables from his allotment.

Beetroots, fennel, onions and rhubarb were taken from the Woodgrove Road plot of County Coun Tony Martin, who represents Burnley Central West on Lancashire County Council.

Now he has called on town hall bosses to put up cameras to keep a watchful eye over his plants in future.

He said: “I have had an allotment for more than 30 years, firstly at Heasandford and later on Woodgrove Road where I keep bees and grow my own vegetables. These petty thefts happen from time to time.

“I am calling on Burnley Council to put up full-colour CCTV coverage of this site, so not only can we catch these thieves, but they can also check the allotment holders are working hard. It’s their civic duty to protect us from these vegetable rustlers!

“I know the police are busy but at community meetings I always encourage residents to report all incidents of crime so we get a true picture of crime levels and I thought I had better practise what I preach.

“I don’t hold out much hope of recovery or conviction, though. As the police officer said — the thieves may have eaten the evidence!”

A police spokesman confirmed an “unknown quantity” of vegetables were stolen from the Woodgrove Road allotment between Monday evening and 7.30am on Tuesday.

A Burnley Council spokesman said: “CCTV resources are limited and are allocated on a priority basis.

“It is simply not practical to cover every allotment in Burnley.”