9:00am Thursday 9th July 2009
By Rebecca Evans
They had spent hours working in their award-winning gardens, with an array of plants and ornaments on display.
But residents living in a row of bungalows are now too afraid to leave decorations in their front gardens after a gnome, 14 china ducks and two china mice were stolen.
The sheltered accommodation in Neills Close, Newhaven, is well-known for its stunning gardens and was even awarded a Newhaven in Bloom prize last year.
Residents, some of whom suffer from mobility and health difficulties, fear similar incidents could happen again.
Kathleen Seymour, 77, said: “Fourteen little china ducks were taken off my window sill, two mice were taken from my bathroom window and a bird in a nest was taken from off my fence.
“I will have to replace all of them. They were not worth a lot but that is not the point. I collect them because I like them.
“I am not leaving things out the front any more, apart from a stone gorilla which I don't think they would take because it is quite heavy.”
Residents in the sheltered accommodation, which is run by Lewes District Council, are baffled as to the motive behind the thefts as none of the items, which include garden lights, are valuable.
The police have been informed about the thefts and are working with residents.
Margaret Williams, scheme manager, said: “The residents have been advised to secure things like hanging baskets and to not leave them on the brackets and to take in anything valuable overnight.
“I have been here for three years and we have never had this sort of trouble.”
Neighbourhood watch coordinator Carol Vandervelt is hoping that CCTV will be installed to deter the thieves.
Mrs Vandervelt, 63, who also lives in Neills Close, said: “We all love our gardens and we do our best in them. They are coming in the night or early hours and then probably taking the items to a car boot sale.
“No one in the road has seen or heard anything. We all do our best and I have had to go around asking people to take things in at night - why should I have to do this?
“It is such a shame.”
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