THE criminal attack on My Patch allotment site near Hay Lane has all the hallmarks of a well-planned act.

Those who perpetrated it clearly went equipped to smash their way into the site, smash their way into sheds, remove any portable machinery they could lay their hands on and rapidly take it away.

Our guess is that the perpetrators were on the site for no longer than a few minutes, and that the items they stole will be sold in some distant part of the country or perhaps find their way into a shipping container for transport overseas.

Even so, it may be that the thieves plan to dispose of the goods online, so owners would do well to check likely websites.

Naturally, anybody who knows or suspects the identity of the thieves, or who is offered the chance to buy what they suspect is an item stolen in the raid, should immediately call the police. If they do not, they are morally no better than the thieves.

We are very sorry for My Patch founder Andy Laker and his clients. Mr Laker is attempting to do a good thing – to introduce people to the very real joys of growing their own produce. His business deserves to succeed.

But allotment sites, it seems, are especially vulnerable to the attention of criminals such as these, who take advantage of darkness and relative isolation. No amount of padlocks and fencing seems to deter them.

We hope Mr Laker and the police are able to come up with a strategy to reduce the risk of such crimes occurring in the future.

Perhaps some form of discreet camera system is the way forward.