A SPATE of robberies in the normally peaceful village of Wheathampstead has brought renewed calls for the installation of CCTV cameras.
The village has fallen victim to the attention of thieves on three separate occasions since April this year, prompting High Street retailers to call for better protection.
On Wednesday, October 31, Busby's Chemist was burgled and a large quantity of items was removed.
Although police have arrested two men in connection with the incident, further attacks are feared as winter sets in and the nights grow longer.
This latest burglary comes on top of an armed robbery at Dillons Newsagent only last month and a further robbery at the Bull Hotel in August.
And many residents still clearly remember the terrifying attack on the village's ATM machine in June that featured in a Crimewatch appeal last month.
This week parish councillor Keith Stammers said: "Many people in the village would like to see CCTV cameras in the High Street because they would deter would-be criminals."
Praising the efforts of Wheathampstead's community officer, he added: "She's doing a pretty remarkable job and everyone knows her but it's just not enough."
Many residents believe that the only way to protect the village is through the construction of cameras or regular police patrols.
Both of these are viewed as costly options by Hertfordshire police though.
They insist that the village has not become the target of thieves and that it suffers from a similar level of crime as other areas in the county.
However, that comes as little comfort to residents who fear that crime will continue to rise unless something is done.
The Bull Hotel's Gemma Newman said: "I've lived here for 23 years and crime has definitely got worse in that time.
"I just don't feel safe any more. There's something going on every other week in the High Street and we need CCTV."
Ms Newman dismissed the idea of extra police patrols, adding: "That wouldn't work.
"We were robbed at about 10.30pm when there were still people in the pub so they obviously don't care.
"The village just isn't safe anymore and something needs to be done."
November 7, 2001 16:06
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