COURAGEOUS residents helped put a stop to wannabe burglars in Latchingdon by blocking their vehicle in.

Dale Symons, owner of Clayhill Vineyard, in Lower Burnham Road, Latchingdon, received a call from a neighbour at 1am.

They had heard noise coming from the vineyard, and believe one of the nearby properties was being burgled.

Dale raced down the road and found a vehicle parked up in the farm opposite the vineyard. He blocked the vehicle into the drive and called the police, disrupting the would be thieves who ran away on foot.

Dale explained: “They gained access through the vineyard and were parked behind a hedge between the building and the roadside and were, as far as we could see, trying to break in to the farm opposite us.

“The owners luckily heard noises in the vineyard and called me, so I shot straight down there and caught the vehicle without any drivers in and blocked it in. They abandoned the vehicle and made off on foot.

“The police response was very good. They were there within five or ten minutes and the police dogs were not long after that.

“They picked up a scent but unfortunately lost it eventually. The handler said the burglars had been trying different car doors on their way to see if any were unlocked that they could steal.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Police were called to a report of criminal damage in Lower Burnham Road shortly before 1.30am on Wednesday, August 30.

“A gate leading to the property had been damaged. Nothing was stolen.”

It was thanks to the quick reactions the burglars were unable to come away with their vehicle, which was impounded by police, or any stolen goods.

Dale added: “We are all looking out for each other down here, and sadly are all expecting something like this to happen.

“The whole of Lower Burnham Road is constantly being hit. Just the other day there were properties burgled along here.”