A RECENT wave of vandalism and theft has led to renewed calls for CCTV in a rural community.

Wooburn Green and Wooburn Town have been hit hard by criminals in a spate of attacks on property.

Wycombe district councillor John Dalton (Independent, The Wooburns) said the crimes pointed to a need for CCTV in the area. He and parish councillor Mike Appleyard (Wooburn Town Ward) are appealing to businesses and organisations for sponsorship.

Cllr Dalton, who is also a member of Wooburn Parish Council, explained: "There is no snappy catch solution to solving this problem but CCTV is the best deterrent. It certainly does work and gives the average citizen a feeling of comfort knowing it's there from a safety point of view. Although we, as a parish council, have been in the bidding for CCTV, we have never actually got it, which is a great shame."I am particularly concerned about crime in Wooburn Green, but our chances of getting CCTV here are remote."

One frightening incident was a theft from the Super Plaice fish and chip shop on The Green, on February 21 when a man entered the shop, leaned over the counter and took the entire till, while his accomplice waited outside in a grey Ford Fiesta.

Thieves also broke into a car between 7.30pm last Tuesday and 8am on Wednesday and stole a CD player, CDs, a palm-top computer and golf equipment in Red Lion Way.

A car window was broken at 7.20pm last Wednesday in Coldmoor Lane. A neighbour alerted the owner after he saw a group of youths running from the scene.

In another theft, a green Land Rover Defender was taken from the forecourt of Wooburn Green Land Rover in Holtspur Lane between last Sunday and last Thursday.

More senseless damage occurred when two cars parked at the tennis club car park in Town Lane, Wooburn Town, were damaged last Thursday evening when vandals smashed the rear windscreen of a green Renault Laguna and the front passenger window of a red Mercedes. The suspects were disturbed and made off in a car.

If you have any information call the police on 01494 465888