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Pensioner Warwick Stevens has had enough of burglars targeting allotments in Riddles Road, Borden

A pensioner is pleading with burglars to “leave us alone” after an allotment was vandalised.

The door to Warwick Stevens’ shed was smashed and its contents were strewn about when vandals struck at the plots off Riddles Road in Borden.

He said his was one of four buildings damaged in the raid on Wednesday night.

Warwick Stevens at his allotment shed
Warwick Stevens at his allotment shed

Mr Stevens, 72, a great-grandfather from Hill Brow, Sittingbourne, said: “They’ve smashed the doors in and everything inside’s been kicked over.

“It happens on a regular basis. You report it to the police, they come and have a look and give you a crime number, and that’s the last you hear of it.

“They say we’ll do more patrols in the area, but they obviously haven’t got enough time.”

Mr Stevens, a retired civil engineer, has owned his plot in Riddles Road, one of a select few allotments nominated to host the National Gardens Scheme open days, for 33 years.

He said vandals struck at the same site last month when they tried to force open a lock-up containing mowers and other machinery.

The pensioner is pleading with burglars to leave the allotments alone
The pensioner is pleading with burglars to leave the allotments alone

“I don’t know why they’re doing it. It’s just wanton vandalism,” he said. “There’s nothing in these sheds so they’re wasting their time.

“We’re all pensioners and these allotments are our leisure and entertainment. Why can’t they leave us alone?”

A police spokesman said officers are investigating reports of burglaries at the allotments.

She said: “It is reported that from 5pm on August 27 and 9.15am the following day, a number of sheds were searched.

“Safety advice has been provided to the victims and local officers have been briefed.”

“Anybody with information is asked to call police quoting crime reference XY/30745/14.”

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