March 1, 2001 12:07: I WRITE in response to the letter in this week's Star "Parents: Is your child a thief?"

I too have had many small items stolen from my garden and have also had filthy abuse shouted at me by children. I say children because that is what they are. They have absolutely no respect or conscience about taking other people's hard-earned things.

I am almost certain that the parents of these children do know what is going on and probably enjoy the benefits of their hauls.

What hope have we honest decent people got when these individuals assume that they cannot or will not be prosecuted by the law or tackled by ourselves?

The people of this town are becoming increasingly angry at the lack of discipline these children are given. We are forced to bear the brunt of their behaviour.

Lynch mobbing may be a thing of the past, but sometimes I wish that the decent people of this town would rise up and kick these animals out of here.

Wycombe would be such a nice place to live if these people were put on a desert island somewhere, where they could only steal from each other.

Name and address supplied