Yobs strike again as vandals damage cree at allotment where pigeons were stolen

Robert Darby appeared in the Mail last month describing how he had been left devastated after two of his show pigeons were stolen.

The ornate birds had been snatched from the 50-year-old’s allotment, which has been targeted about 30 times in a decade and has seen 60 pigeons stolen.

Now the married factory worker and dad-of-two from Peterlee has been dealt a further blow after yobs broke into his pigeon cree and shed.

Although they didn’t steal anything, padlocks on two doors at the plot, at the allotments near Church Street, in Station Town, were damaged.

Robert said: “I’m fed up, but you’ve just got to get on with it.

“It’s just wanton vandalism.”

No one was caught in connection with the last incident and Robert is appealing for people who live nearby and who use the adjacent walkway and cyclepath to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.

PC Rob Ramshaw, of Peterlee Police, said: “Mr Darby locked up the allotment at 3.45pm on Monday and came back on Tuesday morning at 8am and noticed the pigeon cree door was open.

“Upon further investigation it was found that someone had broken into the pigeon cree.

“They opened doors but haven’t taken anything.

“They also broke into a wooden shed.

“The two padlocks will have to be replaced and it’s more inconvenience to him.

“He goes up there and spends a lot of time there.”

Police are appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious activity at the site to call PC Ramshaw on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, quoting reference EE1403266.