Rob Garratt A normally quiet village near Kings Lynn has been shaken following a spate of thefts from garages and shed - prompting a police crackdown on thieves. In January Burnham Market, which has around 500 homes, saw a total of seven of thefts or attempted thefts, including the school and church being targeted.

Rob Garratt

A normally quiet village near Kings Lynn has been shaken following a spate of thefts from garages and shed - prompting a police crackdown on thieves.

In January Burnham Market, which has around 500 homes, saw a total of seven of thefts or attempted thefts, including the school and church being targeted.

Police have described the surge of offending as a “rare spike in an otherwise low crime area” and have pledged to increase patrols.

The issue was raised at the inaugural Hunstanton and Burnham Safer Neighbourhood Action Panel (SNAP) meeting on Thursday, February 5.

Sgt Rob Curl, from the region's Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “This is an unusual rise in thefts for this area and we will be working to tackle this as a priority in the coming weeks.

“In the mean time, residents are encouraged to ensure their sheds and other outbuildings are kept secure, any valuable items are security marked and to report any suspicious activity immediately to police.”

The first incident saw the theft of a child's cycle from the garden of a home in Front Street, overnight on January 1. The same street was targeted a week later, between January 8 and 10, when thieves broke into an outbuilding and stole a red Monoc bike worth �600.

Three bicycles were stolen from a shed in Station Road between January 6 and 12, and there was an attempted garage break in, in Bellamy's Lane, between January 9 and 11.

All Saints Church was targeted, with an attempted break in between January 17 and 20, while a window was broken and alcohol stolen from Satchells in North Street between January 29 and 30. The next SNAP meeting will be held at the town hall from 6pm on April 1.