Calls for villagers to organise their own crime patrols after a “spike” in incidents have left police bemused.
Social media had been “very busy with talk of a spike in crime in Alvechurch”, parish chairman Andy Humphries explained at the Annual Parish Meeting.
But PC Simon Albutt (left) responded: “I have been your beat bobby for seven years and Alvechurch is still an exceptionally safe place to live and bring up your family.
“You are going to get spikes in crime for one reason or another; we do know about trends and we are out and about.”
There had been a spike in car crime, but in his opinion it was “one individual”, he said, adding: “I am trying my best to educate this individual in the ways of community life.”