CONCERNS have been raised after thieves were spotted roaming around villages.

It is believed two men in a white van have been targetting people in Mistley, Manningtree and Lawford.

Steve Ware, 58, of Manningtree is a gardener and has become the latest victim of the thieves’ spree after his ladder got stolen.

Steve, who lives in the Maltings and runs a small gardening business, was working in a court garden just four doors away from his home when the theft happened.

He said: “I started there at about 8.30am and I went out to get the steps at 10am and they had disappeared.

“I knew I brought them out but I double checked that I haven’t left them somewhere else.

“One of the neighbours opposite the house said they saw a white van pull up with two people in it and knocked on the front door of the house but I was working at the back and didn’t hear anything.

“They pulled away three or four minuets later but the neighbours didn’t think anything of it.”

When Steve took to social media to warn his fellow residents, he realised similar incidents have been taking place around Lawford and Mistley.

They included one in Lawford when suspected thieves are thought to have asked a woman if they could take a tyre and some other bits as she was clearing out the garden.

When she refused, one of the guys then got angry and she eventually had to tell them to leave.

Steve added: “I would have probably given the ladder away if someone wanted it.

“It is more of an issue for people to keep a close eye especially for garden stuff left unattended which can unfortunately be easily stolen.”

A new ladder could now set Steve back around £130.

He added: “It is frustrating. It just seems like it is stealing for stealing’s sake.

“It is brazen.

“They are not high value targets as such but it still costs individuals money to replace them.”