CRIMINALS have been targeting an area within easy driving access to a tube station according to residents who say crime has increased.

A lady from Thornwood, Epping recently had her house broken into and said her neighbours had also reported crime in the area.

She said: “We went away on holiday and came back and our house had been broken into. It used to be so quiet around here but I've heard of things going on. I also had someone ask me to use my phone and someone else asking me for money.”

Fiona Daniels has just moved to the area because of an increase in crime where she used to live.

She said: “I was told that the house I have just moved into was burgled in January. I thought it was a one off incident but it's not very reassuring to think that there could be more crime in this area. I moved away from somewhere else because it was so bad. I hope it doesn't become a crime hot spot.”

John Obourne, 58 from Weald Hall Lane added: “The houses round here look big and people obviously think there's something worth stealing. A few neighbours have had burglaries. But that just goes with the times and most of the kids round here have been bought up properly. It's kids coming into Thornwood off the tube who cause trouble rather than people living here.”

Police figures show that crime has increased in the area by 1.3 per cent, compared to April, May and June last year.

And the average number of burglaries has increased by 5.1 per cent.

In May 2009 there were 23 burglaries in the area while in the same month last year there were just ten.

Anti-social behaviour has also increased by 14.3 per cent and in May 2009 there were 44 incidents compared to 31 during May 2008.

The figures for July have not yet been released.