Residents in Glaisdale say they are “sitting ducks” for organised crime as they face being repeatedly targeted with little consequences for offenders.
Joanna Lund and husband Peter have had their garage broken into twice in less than nine months.
After the first burglary from their garage over last year’s Regatta weekend, which saw two off-road motorbikes, an e-bike and tools stolen, the couple spent thousands of pounds ramping up security with locks and bars across their garage doors.
However, in another incident over the recent May bank holiday weekend, thieves used a chair to climb up and peel back the corrugated roof, drop into the garage and use the couple’s tools to remove the security bars and steal a classic Honda motorbike, which has been Peter’s pride and joy to restore.
If they are targeted a third time, they fear they will be forced to move, give up their hobbies or keep shelling out for mounting insurance costs.
Joanna said: “It has happened before and as a result we had extra security and iron bars. It was like fort knox and while we can’t just get on our bikes because of all the locks, it gives you peace of mind.
“I am really sanguine, calm and laid back, but there is something about it this time which really got to me.
“My husband is 62 and has worked at sea since he was 16. When he is home he likes nothing better than restoring motorbikes. With the Honda he had invested a lot of time. It is not about the money, but the passion and hard work – and someone has just taken it.
“That was the final straw for me. He was stoic about it but it is not right. He works hard for the country, it is stressful and this is his downtime.”
To date, no-one has been caught for either crime.
Joanna posted in the Glaisdale village facebook group to see if anyone had information, similar experiences or if they would be willing to write to local MP Alison Hume appealing for more police presence in rural areas.
She was overwhelmed by the response and has been contacted by people in the village, some she doesn’t even know, saying they too have had enough.
Rural auctioneer and land agent, Robert Smith lives in the village as have generations of his family before him.
While he and his wife were on a weekend away recently, they were contacted by neighbours telling them their property had been targeted. Luckily the would-be thieves escaped empty-handed after being disturbed.
He also told how a local farmer’s Toyota Hilux vehicle was stolen and recovered by police but it had been trashed by thieves, and now he has to pay to get it back.
Over recent weeks there have been several reports of bikes, quads and trailers being taken from farms as well as several break-in attempts, including dry stone walls being dismantled to gain access to buildings.
He said: “It is becoming prevalent now. We have no course of recriminating these people. It has become lawless and we are living in a world where it becomes too frequent.
“Police to their credit have been to Ruswarp Mart and given out stencil equipment to put on quads free of charge – and that is really positive – but we need more police present so there is an active deterrent.
“These people know what they can do, what they can get away with and their rights. This is not petty crime, it is organised.”
Joanna’s letter to the MP was in the hope residents and authorities can come up with a solution and a more proactive rather than reactive approach to village and rural crime.
She praised the policewoman who attended following the most recent break-in and carried out house to house inquiries, but argued rural residents deserve more for the portion of council tax which goes to the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority police precept.
Joanna and Peter’s council tax bill is around £3,000 per year with £463 in 2025/26 going to the police and crime budget, a figure rising to £463 for 2026/27.
Joanna said: “People want more police officers on the ground, I don’t know if that is possible but it is not rocket science to know people are doing this and heading out of the village.
“The police officer was brilliant, did house to house inquiries, asked about individual doorbell cameras but CCTV in the village could have given this and is an effective solution.
“There are around a thousand households in Glaisdale so there must be almost half a million pounds going towards policing from Glaisdale alone. Where is it going and what is it doing?
“The police give out a lot of handy security tips but the onus is on the residents, it is self-serve. It should be a partnership because we are like sitting ducks out here.”
The York and North Yorkshire CA has so far declined to comment when approached by The Anchor.
However, an online public meeting is being held tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm by Jo Coles, York and North Yorkshire Deputy Mayor for Policing, Fire and Crime on Rural and Wildlife.
Members of the public are invited to watch the meeting and submit questions in advance. See more details here for how to log in and submit questions.
