Troubled street's cry for police help

RESIDENTS living in a troubled south west Ipswich street today complained that they feel unsafe and said police need to do more to sort the problem out.

On April 3, 17 residents in Sandpiper Road awoke to discover the windows of their cars had been smashed in an overnight attack.

The week before a car in the street had been set alight and burn marks on the road had been left as a reminder of the problems in the area.

Barbie Lindsay, who lives in Sandpiper Road, said: “I was not one of those who had their cars damaged in these attacks but I have had my garage broken into twice and my shed broken into once.

“When I reported that my shed had been broken into and electrical equipment was stolen the police did not seem in too much of a hurry to sort it out. They seem to have the same attitude now and I have not seen much police presence in the last few weeks.

“After the recent spate of attacks officers came and put leaflets through our door saying we should not keep valuables in the cars if we do not want them to be broken into. But the damage that was caused was not from people wanting to steal stuff. They simply wanted to be heartless and mean.

“The leaflets also said they should park under street lights but these cars were.”

Sylvia Hart, who also lives in the street, said: “The situation in the street is worrying at the moment.

“We often hear that the police are struggling to do more because of man power but they always seem to have time to sit by the roadside and try and catch drivers going over the 30mph limit.

“I wonder if it is time the residents did something about it themselves. Perhaps we should start a Neighbourhood Watch scheme so we have no-one to blame but ourselves if it carries on.”

Suffolk police declined comment.

N Are you a resident in the street? Do you think enough is being done? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk