Cable thieves leave homes cut off

Thieves have left homes in a village without telephone lines for the second time in two months after they dug up and stole underground cables.

The thieves made off with cabling from Alconbury Weston in Cambridgeshire.

BT engineers are working on the problem and police, who have urged residents to look after the vulnerable, have set up 24-hour patrols in the village.

Up to 800 homes in the Alconbury Weston area were left without telephone lines after a similar theft in October.

Police believe the thieves, who struck in Buckworth Road in the early hours of the morning, will attempt to sell the cabling for scrap.

Elderly residents

Homes in the villages of Alconbury and Upton have also been left without telephone lines. Police and BT are trying to establish which homes are affected.

Police have been liaising with Alconbury doctors' surgery and housing associations to establish which members of the community are in a vulnerable position.

Det Insp Andy Gipp said: "As part of our reassurance patrols in these villages we are visiting streets where we know elderly or vulnerable residents live.

"These patrols will continue throughout the night, however family, friends and neighbours have a role to play here.

"If you have a family member or friend who you know is in a vulnerable position, or who is elderly in these villages please look out for their welfare while the phone system is being repaired.

"Twenty-four hour police patrols are taking place in these villages and the mobile police station is at the Maypole Square in Alconbury so residents can speak to officers about any concerns they have."

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cambridgeshire Police.