‘Affluent’ Lady Bay area a ‘target’ for shed raiders
RESIDENTS CALL FOR MORE CCTV MONITORING AS POLICE VOW TO STEP UP PATROLS
PEOPLE in Lady Bay are calling for CCTV to be installed after the area was targeted by burglars rummaging through sheds and outbuildings.
Nottinghamshire Police have witnessed an increase in overnight crime especially at weekends in Gertrude Road, Mona Road and Trent Boulevard.
Burglars have targeted a number of properties between Sunday, November 1 and Saturday, November 7. Two bikes were stolen as well as a laptop and ipad.
Shaz Ahmed is the sub-postmaster for Trent Boulevard Post Office, one of the streets where some of the burglaries have occurred.
He said: “I think having more police is a wish list for everyone but it is not viable.
“I have asked for more CCTV on Trent Boulevard in the past because of shop burglaries and other incidents happening in the area.
“We have been broken into before and had a robbery.
“I think any affluent area will get targeted, because it will have something expensive and valuable, and that is why we get it.
“If we can’t get boots on the ground, having some CCTV would be better than having nothing.”
NHS worker Kate Atkinson, 39, has lived just off Trent Boulevard for the last seven years and said it does feel as if the area is being targeted.
She said: “I feel there has been a lot of things happening here so it does feel like we are being targeted especially on certain weekends.
“It is known as an affluent area and it is built up. There are many alleyways to escape and it is close to the city centre.
“There is also a lot of people living here in a small space, that is part of Lady Bay’s charm but there are negatives of that as well. We would like to see more of a police presence.”
Christine O’dowd, 55, who works at a law firm and lives in Lady Bay, said the recent spate of burglaries is “a sad reflection of the times we are in”. Mrs O’dowd, who has lived in the area for the last two years, said: “This is a nice area. It is one of the best places to live and there is a great community spirit.
“We are always looking out for each other.
“It is a sad reflection of the times we are in. I think people forget that even if they break a window of someone’s shed there is a cost and especially in these times.
“No one knows who is next to lose their job.”
Neighbourhood Inspector Craig
Berry, who covers West Bridgford and Lady Bay, is urging people to be vigilant and make sure their homes are secure after suspects entered via open doors and windows.
He said thieves were targeting bikes in sheds and outbuildings. They are particularly looking for hybrid and mountain bikes, those with front suspension forks, presumably to sell on.
He said: “We take reports like these very seriously and we will be stepping up high visibility patrols in the area again this weekend.”