THIEVES spotted pretending to joust stole outdoor lighting and garden ornaments from a property in Bournemouth.

The offenders were seen playing with garden tools outside a property in Ophir Road earlier this month. The following morning, lighting and ornaments used to decorate a garden was missing.

Paul Prince, who lives in Fenwick Court, said he initially stopped burglars from stealing statues of Laurel and Hardy another garden in Ophir Road six months ago.

Mr Prince confronted the men and told them to replace the statues. There have been no further incidents until the most recent burglary, he said.

"During the first theft, I went downstairs and told them to put the statues back," he said.

"I told them if I ever saw them again, I'd call the police. And that was it for a few months.

"At 1am the other day, I was in my flat when I spotted some people near the block playing with a broom and rake.

"They were pretending to charge at each other, as if they were jousting on horses.

"The following morning, I realised they had taken all of the lights, all of the models from this lovely garden.

"They'd used the garden tools to rake up the soil and take all of the little lights from the ground."

Mr Prince, who practises karate, said there are some cameras at Fenwick Court. However, he said they are unlikely to deter any thieves.

"These people don't care about cameras - they wore black hats, and had beards," he said.

"They took all items of value. They are taking over the road."

Fenwick Court, which offers sheltered housing, needs more security by the main entrance in Portchester Road to deter would-be burglars, Mr Prince said.

However, at a meeting of Springbourne and East Cliff residents, Sophie Ricketts, the council's strategic enforcement coordinator, argued extra security is 'disproportional'.

"If it was something happening on a daily basis, I'm sure the housing management team would look at it," she said.