A LITTLE Houghton company has been the latest target of crime in the village.
Ian Foster Groundworks, on Middlecliff Lane, was broken into when thieves attempting to steal his Isuzu tipper truck.
The failed attempt has left Ian with more than £1,000 in damage and repairs, and the businessman is considering closing his one-acre paddock base at Little Houghton.
He said this is just the latest incident at his yard, which is at the far and more isolated end of Middlecliff Lane.
Previously he has noticed tools and other equipment go missing, with the relatively large yard being quite difficult - and costly - to fully secure.
Ian, who lives on Middlecliff Lane, said: “I had only been gone an hour when I got a call from a neighbour to the site saying there were lads with hoods on in the yard.
“By the time I got out, two cars sped away past us out of the village. They flew past in what looked like a Volvo and an Audi. When we got up, they had uncoupled the trailer with the dumper on it and rolled the truck forward. They have smashed the window of the truck which we only got in December and have rolled it into the building. It has cost £1,100 in damage.
“A week ago I had some wheels go missing too, old ones which I’d been told were unsafe. And the month before they took a power washer. It is an absolute joke down there. It started small with a few odd things and all of a sudden, now it is non-stop.”
Ian thinks part of the problem is the lack of street lighting and because Middlecliff Lane is a dead end. The road ends in the bus turnaround and previously led to the long since closed Houghton Main pit.
A South Yorkshire Police spokeswoman said: “It is reported that the locks on the gate were broken and a white Isuzu tipper truck damaged.
“The offenders are thought to have left the area in a Volvo.
“Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 798 of January 24.”
