A sleepy village has been left shell-shcked after being struck by an overnight crimewave.

Priscilla Rowland lost her pet tortoises in a spate of nine thefts and break-ins in Shadoxhurst in a single night.

Now police have swept in with patrols and are warning villagers to be vigilant.

Mrs Rowland, 78, of Moreton Terrace, Woodchurch Road, said: "The tortoises were stolen from their hutch.

"I was so horrified. I had one for 30 years and another for 20 years. The older one was given to me by my niece when she was 10.

"I have lived in this village for 57 years and I have never known so many crimes to happen her in one night.

"This used to be a place where you could leave your doors open but I think things have got worse since the village grew in size."

Other crimes during Sunday night/Monday morning were:

* A £500 Hayter petrol-driven lawnmower taken from a garage in Park Farm Close.

* A padlock on a garage door in Hornash Lane stolen.

* A hedge trimmer and attachments, totalling £230, and a pair of brass candlesticks and a brass teappot, worth £70 taken from another garage in Hornash Lane.

* Low value property stolen from a van broken into on a driveway at Moretone Terrace.

* The lock of a van in Woodchurch Road drilled, causing £150 damage.

* A silver Giant Trance XO full suspension mountain bike, costing £1,400, stolen.

* A car broken into in Malloy Road but nothing stolen.

* Golf clubs totalling £1,000 stolen from a car broke into in a driveway in Tally Ho Road. Damage to the car itself totalled £30.

A police spokesman said: "We are warning residents in rural areas to be extra security conscious and vigilant following a spate of incidents.

"Neighbourhood officers have now conducted patrols in the area, offering security advice and shed alarms to vulnerable premises."

Anyone with information concerning these crimes should contact South Kent Police on 01622 690 690 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

For crime prevention advice, contact Ashford Community Safety Unit 01622 660 747.