STONE thieves ravaged a Keighley neighbourhood, making off with so many slabs from people’s properties that at least one garden wall could collapse.

Residents have been left having to literally pick up the pieces. They said much of the theft occurred in the Caledonia Road area of Lawkholme within the last two weeks.

The extent of this crime prompted Keighley’s MP to call on the Government to crack down on the trade in stolen stone.

John Grogan said: “Stone theft is a growing problem nationally. It was initially concentrated on historic churches but has spread to domestic properties.

“I want the Government to explore the practicalities of introducing a scheme like that which operates with scrap metal, where all traders have to provide identification.”

Among properties in Caledonia Road hit by the thieves was the house occupied by brothers Muneeb Rashid, 23, and Adeel Rashid, 28.

Adeel, a bank worker, said the wall of their back yard was badly damaged early in the morning of August 27. Criminals ripped so much stone from the top of the wall it is in danger of toppling over.

Adeel said the raid left him and his family feeling scared and angry. “A few of our neighbours’ walls were hit at the same time,” he added. “We’ve contacted police, and luckily we're insured."

Hafiz Raza, 36, a debt management worker who lives nearby, had stone slabs stolen from the top of his yard wall last month.

“These were very heavy stones, and I don’t know how they managed to do it,” he said. “Other people living round here have had to install their own CCTV. I’m considering doing this myself.”

Mr Raza said he reported the theft to Keighley police, but said he was told there was not much officers could do unless he could produce good quality security camera footage of the crime.

Another Caledonia Road resident, 36-year-old NHS manager Saj Rahman, said: “On August 25 Back Caledonia Road was hit pretty badly with a number of stones being stolen from residents’ walls.

“This already deprived area now looks even more deprived, and it appears residents have let the walls get into this state which isn’t the case.

“We need more deterrent on Back Caledonia Road and nearby streets, including cameras and street lighting, as well as a more positive response from the authorities.”

A police spokesman said: "There were two crimes recorded for stone theft in Caledonia Road in August – both believed to have happened in the early hours of August 25.

"Keighley Police inspector Khalid Khan has received correspondence from one of the aggrieved parties and will be responding to them.

“Anyone with information which may assist investigation of these crimes should contact Keighley Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101, or use the live chat facility on the West Yorkshire Police website.

“Information can be reported anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.”