FED-up residents have decided to form a community watch group in an effort to prevent crime.

'Homeguard Local Residents' is an online forum set up after a spate of burglaries in the Barrow area.

The group was founded by Barrow resident Dave White after thieves were spotted dozens of homes in the town.

The forum has been designed as a place where people can share information about suspicious activity or details of a crime.

More than 4,000 Barrovians have joined the site so far.

Mr White said the group is a way of residents coming together to support others in the community and the police.

He said: “I set up the group after a number of people said they had found uninvited people in their houses.

“The group grew quickly and got around 1,200 members in the first couple of weeks.

“The idea behind the group is that it is an extra pair of eyes and ears in the town.

“We now have at least one admin for every area.

“This means there will always be someone watching for reports coming in.

“The group is really about residents coming together to support the community and supporting the police in their jobs by providing information.

“I’ve had conversations with people wanting to set up a Homeguard Neighbourhood Watch, but don’t I want this to be something people charge for.”

Mr White is planning on producing stickers for residents to place in house windows and cars in an effort to prevent further break ins.

It is hoped the sticker will act as a deterrent to thieves looking at targeting properties and homes.

Mr White has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for the stickers, which has raised £363.

Mr White said: “Any money not used to buy the stickers will be donated to victim support.”

A police spokeswoman urged people to report crime directly to the police. She said: “We would urge people to always report information to police directly. In an emergency call 999, in a non-emergency call 101.”