OKEHAMPTON Police Sergeant Nathan Walker has described how it has felt to be a victim of crime himself — after his garden shed on his allotment was broken into.

Sgt Walker’s shed was among a number on the allotments off Fatherford Road broken into overnight on Sunday through to Monday (October 20 to 21), along with the sheds at the Men in Sheds project and Community Garden next door.

Sgt Walker, who leads the neighbourhood policing team, had a plastic petrol can containing a small amount of unleaded petrol stolen.

He said, though, that the incident had left its mark on him and his neighbours on the allotments.

‘This event got me thinking about how I feel about being a victim of a crime and the answer is not good, but I am more disappointed that someone else’s actions have had an impact on a community that I am part of,’ he said.

’Sometimes the crime committed is minor but the impact is large. My loss was relatively low but now I will be much more careful about the contents of my shed.

‘I won’t be keeping my grandfather’s old fork (still used with great effect) or my rotavator in there for fear of them going missing. One would be a great personal loss to me and the other would cost me to replace it.

‘I will also be warier of those I don’t know being in the area when I feel the allotments should be a social place, somewhere for people to share common experience and values. All because of the actions of another.’

Sharing the link to Victim Support, he said he hoped people in the community would continue to support the allotments. ‘I’ll keep digging and hope the people of our lovely community continue to contribute to our great town as they always have,’ he added.

Anyone with information on the thefts on the Fatherford Lane site is urged to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or directly to the police on 101. Victims of this crime ­— or any others — can get support at www.victimsupport.org.uk/help-and-support/get-help/support-near-you/south-west/devon-and-cornwall.