POLICE have warned residents in East Yorkshire to protect their property after a spate of shed and allotment break-ins.

Humberside Police said 11 sheds at allotments in Sparkmill Lane, Beverley were broken into overnight on Wednesday, June 1, and power tools and gardening equipment were stolen.

Another 11 sheds were also broken into at the allotment gardens in Spellowgate, Driffield, in the same night. A police spokesman advised allotment owners to store expensive or valuable items at home, create a list of them, including photographs where possible, and to mark them with bright paint.

Inspector Mark Coulthard said: “We are asking all allotment owners to be vigilant and to report anything suspicious to the police - no matter how small or insignificant you may think it is.

We would also ask owners to increase the security at their allotment; shed alarms, security lights and strong locks are all tools that can help your allotment become less attractive to a thief.

Extra patrols have been put in place at each of the allotment sites targeted, and officers have been speaking with allotment owners.