Rural communities on the outskirts of Great Dunmow are at their wits’ end after being “terrorised” by criminals in a spate of thefts likened to being in the “Wild West”.

Parish councils in Great Canfield, High Roding, Felsted and Little Dunmow are discussing teaming up to request a meeting with the police to find out what is being done to tackle the problem of mass shed burglaries and cars being broken into in their areas.

Residents are so fed up that it has even been suggested that people get together to protest outside Great Dunmow Police Station.

A spokesman for Essex Police said the force was aware of residents’ concerns and that investigations into the break-ins, which have occurred in spates and increased over the past three months, were continuing.

Councillor Robert Mackley, a member of Great Canfield Parish Council, told the Broadcast residents were “starting to no longer feel safe” because of the sheer volume of thefts.

“These people are running riot in our villages,” he said. “It’s like the Wild West out there – something needs to be done because we’re feeling terrorised.

“The numbers must be hitting the Richter scale when it comes to recording crime.”

Sheds have been the main target, with Bacon End, Great Dunmow, hit badly on the night of December 29. A John Deere ride on lawn mower worth £4,500, a £150 Makita drill and a Makita saw valued at £150 were stolen from one property, while a £3,000 ride-on lawnmower was taken from another.

There have also been reports of bicycles being stolen and cars broken into – with the latest incidents, including six sheds being broken into, taking place in Hope End earlier this week.

Mr Mackley added: “The police are being helpful but don’t seem to be getting anywhere.

“We need to get a meeting with all the parishes and the police and ask what is being done about this because there has been an epidemic of crime in the last few weeks.”