FAMILIES have been left devastated after heartless thieves ransacked a host of garden sheds.

The thefts are estimated to have taken place sometime between 4pm and 8pm on Wednesday, January 3.

In total, eight sheds are believed to have been broken into, with valuable goods taken.

As a result, one exasperated woman is appealing for help in tracking down her stolen bicycle.

Caroline Rickards, 31, who lives in Manor Road, off Westcott Place, said: “I got a knock on the door from a neighbour saying that all eight sheds had been broken into and I went into a panic. I was so shocked and almost started crying.

“My first thought was to call the police, but I just couldn’t think – I was a mess.”

The thieves had stolen the bike that Caroline uses to ride to work at Greenbridge every day.

They are also thought to have stolen another bicycle worth £1,000 from a neighbour’s shed, as well as a number of other valuable items.

Pat Rickards, Caroline’s mum, was gobsmacked that someone could be so heartless.

She said: “It’s really not on. It’s my daughter’s lifeline - she needs this bike.

“There’s no CCTV down here, but we are sure that somebody must have seen something.

“We are pleading with anyone who might have seen something or who has been offered any bikes to get in touch with the police.”

The sheds belong to the tenants who live in the flats in Manor Road.

Caroline said they had been targeted by burglars before, around five times in total.

In what appears to be something of a crime wave, she also said that car windows had been smashed “god knows how many times” in recent months.

“It’s getting beyond a joke now,” she said.

In one last plea to the public, mum Pat said: “We would be so grateful if someone could help in getting the bike back. We urge anyone with information to get in touch with the police as soon as possible.”

The stolen bike is described as a mauve-coloured Raleigh lady’s bike that Pat says “would definitely stand out”.

Wiltshire Police confirmed that the they had received reports of a break-in and were looking into it.

The stolen bike is not reported to be worth an awful lot of money, but its absence is proving a great inconvenience for Caroline.

The theft comes amid recent claims that the town is in the middle of a crime epidemic.

Wiltshire and Swindon’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Angus Macpherson, has in recent months met with residents across Swindon who are concerned that crimes are not being investigated properly by the police.

Mr Macpherson has vigorously defended his force’s record and blamed a lack of funding from central government for the police’s perceived inertia.

Caroline added: “It’’s awful to think that someone would do such a thing and I really hope the bike can be found as soon as possible.”