PRIVATE security patrols have begun on a crime-hit estate after another seven homes were targeted by burglars in just one night.

The break-ins took place in and round the Wick estate, in Wickford, overnight between Monday and Tuesday, according to Basildon crime scene investigator Vicki Smith.

It come after the Echo revealed earlier this week there were reports of ten burglaries on Friday night and 15 on Saturday - bringing the total to 32.

The weekend spree prompted James Poole, 25, who lives on the estate, to urge his neighbours to pitch in money for private security guards - who they can contact directly if they see anything suspicious.

A Facebook page set up after burglars snatched his wife Adelle’s handbag from their house has already received 100,000 views.

On Tuesday night the dad-of-one joined private Clacton-based security firm AGS for a demonstration patrol.

He said: “The police are hugely underfunded and we need some sort of protection.

“I joined an AGS patrol on Tuesday night for an hour, there was one security guard in a patrol car.

“A camper van was stolen that night. We couldn’t catch them, but we’ve had great support and feedback from Wickford residents.

“One post about a burglary was shared around 40,000 times – that’s a lot of people in Wickford.

“We just need more of a deterrent to stop so many of these crimes.”

A similar scheme is already underway in Ramsden Heath, with villagers in Stock considering employing security guards.

Last month, figures released via a Freedom of Information request showed Basildon is targeted by burglars more than anywhere else in the county.

A total of 1,202 incidents were reported between January and July - accounting for almost half of all burglaries across south Essex.

The figures mean an average of six break-ins take place every day, with just 4.5 per cent of them resulting in an offender being brought to justice.

Essex Police closed stations and cut PCSOs to save £63million by 2020.

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