POLICE have been attacked for a lack of bobbies on the beat after an elderly woman shockingly burgled while she was at home.

POLICE have been attacked for a lack of bobbies on the beat after an elderly woman shockingly burgled while she was at home.

Needham Market town councillors are deeply concerned about the lack of bobbies on the beat within their community after an elderly lady confronted a burglar, who refused to leave until he had found and stolen her purse.

The authority is now writing to Suffolk Constabulary with their concerns about a lack of visible policing within their community, after the matter was discussed during their meeting on Wednesday evening.

Ian Mason, a town councillor and former mayor, said: “When we had no crime in this area and Needham Market was smaller we had a police station with a sergeant and three officers.

“Now there is no police station, no officers and just police community support officers.

“There is no-one about in our town. The other day an elderly woman was at her home in the community when someone got in stole her purse.

“It's so bad now that criminals can get into someone's house and rob them, because they know there are no police about.”

The distraction burglary in Park Road happened sometime between 8.20pm and 8.45pm on October 6 when an elderly woman discovered an intruder in her home.

She heard a noise, discovered him in her bedroom, challenged him and he claimed to be looking for his cat. The man continued to search the property despite her telling him she would call police.

He then left through the front door and a window was found to have been forced open and a purse was missing.

The burglar is white, in his early 20s, five feet eight inches tall with a slim build and short dark hair, and was wearing a black t-shirt and black trousers.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk Constabulary said: “We have got safer neighbourhood team based at Needham Market. Officers have other villages to look after, but they are based in the town and will carry out patrols.”

Are there enough bobbies on the beat? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk