CCTV theft leaves plumber fuming; CRIME: Trader steps up campaign after his own surveillance camera is stolen.

Byline: Sophie Cross

A SOLIHULL plumber campaigning for a pounds 33,000 CCTV camera to be installed says thieves made off with equipment he bought to combat the problem.

Carl Moseley, of York Plumbing, in Stratford Road, said businesses near the junction with Shakespeare Drive had suffered "unbelievable" numbers of incidents and surveillance equipment should be installed in the public interest.

Police records show that along with anti-social behaviour problems include: Four robberies, including two where offenders were armed with a knife, baton or both and one where they were carrying hand guns.

Three burglaries and two attempted burglaries.

Three thefts from motor vehicles.

Six incidents of damage to buildings.

"We put up our own CCTV system with four cameras, which cost between pounds 500 to pounds 600, but one was stolen," said Carl.

"We've had windows smashed. Other places have been burgled and robbed. But there's no photographic evidence. This would not just be in our interests, but in the interests of the community. You have to think of the amount of police time that must have been spent coming out to deal with problems here."

Solihull Council's cabinet for community services is backing plans to install a CCTV camera by the junction - which would cost a further pounds 5,300 to run each year - if officers can find external funding to support its current surveillance operation.

Coun Gary Allport (Con Shirley South) said although it was "a nice area to live in", the problems were largely the work of outside gangs.

"The cameras are expensive, especially as Solihull is the metropolitan council that receives the lowest level of central government funding," he said.