A LORRY driver has vowed he will camp out in his garden to catch thieves after his shed was targeted for the fourth time.

Alan Dominy, of Tyler Street, Parkeston, said his shed was broken into on Tuesday between 4.30am and 5am.

Mr Dominy, 49, said: “It’s the fourth time somebody has broken into my shed in just two years.

“They have stolen tools worth of thousands of pounds over the years.

“They have stolen pistol drills, impact ranks, socket sets, spanners, a circular, a grinder and two trolley tracks.”

He said the shed is a workshop for fixing cars, tyres and mobility scooters.

He added: “It’s got soul-destroying and it’s just a vicious circle. It’s making me ill, physically ill and I am really frustrated and angry.

“I’m planning to camp out there and take the matters into my own hands as the police won’t do anything so we will have to do this until the police will start patrols and take this seriously.

“We will have to stop thugs, it’s a misery, not only for myself but for all the people in the area.”

Mr Dominy said it was his next door neighbour - an elderly lady - who reported the incident and she was on the phone to the police while witnessing how three thugs were breaking into the shed and stealing from it.

Angered residents of Tyler Street have also called for a greater police presence after the break-in and an attempted raid on a home the same night.

Michelle Huggett, of Tyler Street, said she was left “terrified” after someone tried to break into her home.

The 47-year-old said: “I got up at about 4am to go to the toilet, when I heard somebody at the door trying to get in. But I was too scared to go near.

“We have a fingerprint lock and they snapped it off and took that with them.

“I was very anxious all day, and I’m still not looking forward to going to bed.

“My husband is really cross and angry too.”

She said nothing else went missing from their home.

Chief Insp Lily Benbow, Tendring Police’s district commander, said: “We are aware of reports in relation to burglary offences at storage sheds and premises in the area.

“These remain open investigations at this time and are led by our local policing teams.

“To help us combat such crimes I would encourage residents to ensure they have secured their premises to the best of their ability and consider installing CCTV as a further deterrent.

“We are also continuing to deliver Operation Meteor, a force-wide initiative of property marking, to help reduce instances of burglary. “Harwich Community Policing Team has benefitted from additional police in recent months with an additional sergeant, six police constables and a PCSO.

“We have also seen Harwich Town Council and Tendring Council fully fund an additional PCSO for the town.”

If you have any information about these incidents, call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.