A CAR CRIME blitz across Newton Abbot has prompted outspoken county councillor Gordon Hook to fire off a letter of despair to police commissioner Alison Hernandez.

He fears police underfunding may partly be the reason the town is in the grip of an unprecedented string of thefts from cars.

His concerns have been aired in response to alarming figures which show the town is being hammered mercilessly by the auto-crooks.

Today’s (August 25) Mid-Devon Advertiser has revealed that 80 vehicles have been attacked by a small gang of organised villains in the last month alone.

The tally of victims of the relentless marauders - thought to be just five in number - has rocketed into the 100s so far this year.

Nearly 20 thefts, or attempted thefts, from vehicles have been reported in the last week.

Cllr Hook says in his missive to the commissioner: ‘It appears that Newton Abbot is in the grip of a crimewave not previously experienced, certainly not in my time.

‘In the last fortnight both of my immediate neighbours have been the victims of criminal activity, which is by no means remotely exceptional. In particular, Newton Abbot is experiencing large scale car crime with many such crimes reported to me daily.’

He added: ‘I understand that budgetary constraints have resulted in significant reductions in the ability of the local police force to respond to this upsurge in criminal activity, and I have to wonder if Newton Abbot is receiving its fair share of policing resources.

‘Certainly the local force is under-manned.’

He offered any expertise he might be able to provide in helping curb the excesses of the thieves plaguing the town.

Cllr Hook admitted being ‘distressed’ by the escalating problem.

He told the commissioner: ‘Central Government is starving you of funding, and we are all suffering.’

And he asked: ‘Can you give the residents of Newton Abbot any assurances that this crimewave will be brought to an early end?

‘Can you give assurances that we in Newton Abbot are receiving at least our fair share of the limited funding - and do you have any immediate operational proposals to help Newton Abbot?’

He concluded: ‘I await your response to these urgent and genuine comments with considerable interest.’