Residents left ‘creeped out’ after underwear thief strikes

RESIDENTS have been left feeling ‘creeped out’ after bizarre happenings on a quiet Coventry street.

An underwear thief is believed to be on the prowl in the Longford area of the city leaving many locals on edge.

An unnamed resident, who lives on Grange Road, said the thefts last week were ‘very odd.’ He and several neighbours have decided to install CCTV cameras as they fear what may happen next.

The resident said: “A neighbour told me that she had someone enter the washroom she has on the back of her house and steal some underwear. She has been speaking to others in the street who had clean washing stolen off the lines also.”

It appears the thief is on the sole lookout for underwear as the resident revealed that several of his expensive goods were left untouched, despite the perpetrator sneaking into his garden. He said: “They had been in our garden and opened a gate, moved a mountain bike but didn’t steal anything.

“The bike wasn’t great but was expensive in its day. I had also got some expensive kayaking gear on the line which they walked past.”

“Further up the street someone had clean undies stolen and another shed was entered and stuff moved but only an axe was taken. It is all very odd. I am installing CCTV at the rear now just in case anyone returns.”

Speaking about how he feels about the thefts, the resident added: “Bizarre is the word. I think the female residents find it very creepy. Myself, I just hate how people feel they have the right to steal from others.”

Sandra Lamb, who lives nearby, added: “I live on Grange Road and have done for 30 years. I was shocked that someone is coming into the gardens to steal underwear from the washing lines.

“It is disgusting that this has happened, what sort of person goes into gardens to steal underwear. It doesn’t make any sense, you feel unsafe in your own home as you don’t know what else they might do.”

Sandra added that she and her neighbour have decided to purchase surveillance cameras. She said: “Most of us are worried about what they might do next”.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said the force had been alerted to an incident at 5.44am on June 24. “Someone in Grange Road reported that someone had been inside their shed and conducted a messy search. Shed was unlocked.”