POLICE officers have urged boat owners to take security measures to stop a growing number of thefts from the Suffolk coast.Thieves have targeted boats in the Slaughden area of Aldeburgh and they have also concentrated on stealing from the fishermen's huts along the seafront.

POLICE officers have urged boat owners to take security measures to stop a growing number of thefts from the Suffolk coast.

Thieves have targeted boats in the Slaughden area of Aldeburgh and they have also concentrated on stealing from the fishermen's huts along the seafront.

In one incident a new fishing boat lost equipment worth more than £12,000 when thieves took a rescue boat from Aldeburgh Yacht Club and sailed to the boat's mooring at Slaughden.

There have also been recent thefts from boats in Orford and Woodbridge.

The annual town council meeting in Aldeburgh was told that boat owners and fishermen needed to be extra vigilant.

Niki Carrier, of the police Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “I would urge anyone who has property in the area to ensure that it is coded. Also, the fishermen's huts along the seafront have been a target for thieves over the last few months with various pieces of expensive equipment having been taken along with a quantity of fish, which was also stolen.

“These people have an important job within the community and some equipment is mandatory to them being able to go out to sea.”