A PAPWORTH man has urged homeowners to be on their guard after burglars tried to break into his home while he was upstairs. Robert Granger, of Brookfield Road, in Papworth Everard, contacted The Hunts Post concerned that the thieves could still be targeti

A PAPWORTH man has urged homeowners to be on their guard after burglars tried to break into his home while he was upstairs.

Robert Granger, of Brookfield Road, in Papworth Everard, contacted The Hunts Post concerned that the thieves could still be targeting village properties.

Mr Granger said he had been using his computer when the would-be intruders broke open his kitchen window.

"I heard a loud bang and thought it was my neighbours moving furniture around," said 56-year-old Mr Granger. "But when I went downstairs I found my kitchen window had been forced open.

"The catch on the double glazed window had been broken. They must have heard me coming downstairs and run off."

When he went outside to look around, Mr Granger noticed that two of his neighbour's windows had also been smashed.

The attempted burglaries took place last Tuesday (February 24) at about 7.30pm.

Mr Granger added: "I want to let people know what has happened so they can take measures to secure their home. There are quite a lot of vulnerable people in the village and I would not want anything like this to happen to them.

"I have lived here for three years and nothing like this has happened before. It has left me quite nervous and concerned about how safe I am in my own home.

"You do not expect anything like this to happen in such a quiet village like Papworth Everard."

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said no arrests had been made and the investigation was ongoing.

nDuring February there were 14 break-ins in Little Paxton, Buckden, Offord, Great Paxton, Great Gransden, Hail Weston, Great Staughton, Stonely, Kimbolton and Waresley.

The burglaries mainly took place during the week, in daylight hours. In the majority of cases the properties had open or unlocked side or back gates.

INFORMATION: Anyone with information can call police on 0845 4564564 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

CAPTION: CONCERNED: Robert Granger is warning residents to be on their guard after an attempted break-in at his home.

Picture: HELEN DRAKE 0077HD0309.