Fed-up residents are planning a night-time stake-out to ambush garage thieves.

Residents of Daniel Close in Lancing say they will camp out to catch thieves who keep breaking into a garage compound.

They will keep in contact by mobile phone so if the thieves turn up they can spring into action.

Resident Dan Steer said: "We are getting really annoyed at all the break-ins and that is why we are planning to camp out by the garages."

In one raid, Mr Steer, a newly-wed, had all his wedding presents and photographs of his baby daughter stolen.

His mother-in-law Honnie Hill said: "As they were moving house, we put all their stuff in the garage overnight.

"But that night the thieves broke in and took the lot.

"We don't mind so much about the presents but it was all the photos of our granddaughter Bethany because we can't replace those."

She said residents were abandoning the Adur District Council-owned garages because they knew they were not safe to use.

She said: "I have lived round here for 37 years but the days are gone when I could safely lock up things.

"We have put padlocks on the garages but the thieves just use hammers to break them off.

"We have had security lights put up but they just help the thieves see what they are doing."

In another incident, her husband Frank, a taxi driver, had his cab smashed up and the meter and radio stolen.

Mrs Hill said: "We don't think it is children as the padlocks are up quite high and they would have to use a car to cart away the gear."

Adur District Council said it was looking at how the compound and garages could be made more secure.

Inspector Paul Amoo, of Sussex Police, said: "I was only made aware of the problems yesterday by one of the residents.

"The local home beat officer will be attending today to speak to the residents and progress matters accordingly."