AN ELDERLY couple have put up a note for thieves after more than £2,000 of goods were stolen from their garden shed.

Francis and Julie Trench, from Minerva Close in Dovercourt, said an electric bike, a mercury outbound motor, a blacksmith’s anvil, a number of Stanley tools and panel beading equipment were all taken from their shed on Thursday, November 23.

Mrs Trench, 74, has been recovering from breast cancer for the past year and says that incidents like this are just added stress for the couple.

She said: “It’s so quiet around here, you don’t see anybody.

“It’s usually just all old people who live round here really – you walk around and you really don’t see anyone.

“My husband is very upset, all his tools are gone and they can’t be replaced.

“I had breast cancer a year ago and I’m still in and out of hospital for chemotherapy. I’m just starting to feel better and this happens, it’s just not nice but we just carry on.

The couple moved to the area from Hackney more than three years ago and said that neighbours have also been suffering from the same problem.

Mr Trench, 76, said: “Everything was taken out the shed in the back garden.

“The people who stole it must be strong to pick all that stuff up.

“The electric bike alone was worth about £1,000. People at the other side of the house have said that their shed was broken into as well.”

The couple have taken matters into their own hands by adding extra fencing to the top of their garden fence to stop thugs from jumping over and stuck a note to the shed saying there are no tools left.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: “We received reports that three garden sheds were broken into at an address in Minerva Close.

“This is believed to have happened between 2pm on November 22 and 7.30am on November 23.

“A garden light was smashed, and a messy search of the sheds conducted. An electric folding bike was taken.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.