IPSWICH: “Watch out, there’s a Humphrey about,” might have been a popular refrain of the 1970s – but it seems another milk thief is on the loose and targeting a pre-school.

St John’s Playtime Pre-school, based at St John’s United Reformed Church in Cowper Street, has reported three separate thefts of up to 16 pints of milk over the past three weeks.

The milk was destined for the pre-school’s youngsters, aged between two and five. Play leader Natalie Bailey said: “It’s quite disturbing because the milk is supposed to go to our children. We have had to buy more each time just so the children can have a drink.

“We just couldn’t believe that someone could take that much.It’s the inconvenience it causes. We are here to look after the children and we have to go out and get more milk using the pre-school’s own money.

“It’s unbelievable that people can steal from children. It’s a church building as well, so it’s quite sad that someone would do this.”

The milk was left on the church steps when the thefts took place, from 4am to 8am on October 5, 12 and 17. A police spokeswoman said staff had been given security advice on storage.She added: “We are carrying out an investigation into these thefts, and we are asking any members of the public who have been in the area at the time, to contact police by calling 101.”

This is not the first such theft to be reported to police. Dozens of homes on the Whitehouse estate had milk bottles pinched in August, which led to a kind-hearted milkman returning to the area to make a second delivery.

n What do you think of these thefts? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.