Shed break-ins

Eleven sheds at Birchenfield allotments on Ninfield Road have been targeted and now Sussex Police warn gardeners not to leave tools and equipment on site.

It's also suggested that owners do not attempt to make their sheds safer by adding extra locks or security as this has the effect of advertising that there is something inside worth stealing.

"Don't leave anything in them," advised PC Victoria Harmer this week.

"If you put on extra padlocks it just looks as if there's valuable items in there. And if the locks are that strong, they will just rip off the whole door and cause more damage to the shed."

It is advised that tools and equipment, as well as other valuable items such as bicycles, are marked with property marking pens, available at Bexhill police station, and serial numbers recorded on www.immobilise.com, which is a free register of serial numbers so that items if lost or stolen can be traced back to their owners.