A BARRY woman has voiced concern for her uncle after a break in at his home, which saw money and 18 war medals stolen last week.

The Blackwell Close home of David Gardner was raided on Thursday July 14, sometime between 7am and 6pm.

A total of £190 was taken, along with the medals - which Mr Gardner had collected and said he planned to donate to Oxfam.

Adele Baker, Mr Gardner's niece, said: "My uncle is like a saint - he gives a lot to charity. He's a really hard working guy. Why and who would do this to someone?

"I think we're all worried that the house will be broken into again."

The back door window of Mr Gardener's home was smashed during the raid, while the family say that neighbours spotted two men in Mr Gardner's looking into the house from his back garden a few weeks ago.

Renae Baker, another niece to Mr Gardner, added: "It does make you think long and hard about the safety of your own home."

It comes after the Barry and District reported how residents had branded the area a 'crime hotspot' just last month.

They said then that more than 20 night-time incidents - including other burglaries and damage to cars - had been reported to the police since May.

The homeowners blame the fact that Blackwell Close is one of the areas that had its lights switched off after midnight in money saving measures by the Vale council.

Pregnant mum-of-two Gemma Kitely said at the time: “We have had tyres slashed 23 times and rocks thrown at windscreens."

Rebecca Dunning, 24, also said her living room window had been smashed by a rock.

The Vale council has since announced it will be spending £1.4m to replace every light in the Vale with dimmable LEDs over the next three years - meaning they will be able to stay on all night.

But ward councillor Richard Bertin, who previously said he planned to hand in a petition on their behalf, said the situation needed to be resolved now.

"I am sorry to hear that the problems are continuing at Blackwell Close," he added. "I will continue to campaign to get the lights switched back on and will do my best in working with partner agencies to hopefully get the problems resolved at this close. A petition will be handed at the July meeting of the full council signed by local residents."

Vale council operational manager for highways and engineering Mike Clogg previously said the police crime reduction and tactical advisor was “aware of this regrettable situation regarding high level of reported crime” in the area and was “looking to obtaining a covert camera" for the area.

Cllr Peter King, cabinet member for building services, added: “There is currently no evidence that part-night street lighting has been a contributing factor to the incidents in Blackwell Close.”

He also said the council would work with and co-operate with the police.

Police have asked if anyone has any information about the break in, to contact South Wales Police, quoting reference 264407 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.