A MINI crime wave has erupted in the town centre where a number of businesses are being broken into by cunning crooks.

Shops along Baldwin Street in the town centre have become a target for nimble thieves who have entered a number of premises after clambering over a 10 ft wall and winkling their way in through tiny openings.

Baffled owners are becoming increasingly concerned for their businesses following the spate of break-ins between Thursday June 28 and Tuesday July 3 when thieves stole small amounts of cash and beauty products and shop owners are worried that they may come back for more.

On each occasion, thieves have accessed the buildings through small windows at the rear of the properties which are surrounded by a high wall and which owners say would be very difficult to see.

Keith Williams who owns Dream Hairdressing, which was broken into twice in just four days, says that he is mystified by the burglaries: "The thieves did not touch the things which you'd have thought they'd have taken, but they stole about £2000-worth of styling products like shampoo, tint, hairdryers and straighteners - things which would be difficult to sell unless you knew someone in the business."

Last Tuesday, the crooks broke into three adjoining properties, Pimbletts, Sheer Bliss and Holly's Florists, but got away with only a small amount of cash.

Sue Grundy who owns the florists says that the incident has really upset her: "It makes you question why you are in this business - you work hard to try to build it up and this is what happens. I can't see why anyone would want to break into a florist - they didn't touch any of the flowers and just took £100 in cash."

Thieves entered the florists via the beauty salon, Sheer Bliss, where again only a small amount of money was taken.

Salon owner Marie Clossick described the incident as "sickening". She continued: "It seems as though they knew what they wanted to take."

Sergeant Ian Critchley of Merseyside Police said: "The police are aware of these incidents and we are urging business owners to make sure that their property is as secure as possible, especially as there has been a spate of burglaries. We have police patrolling the area and are doing all we can to stop this problem."

But as the Star went to press, there were reports that other businesses in the town centre had been targetted by burglars, including five shops on North Road, as well as six on Duke Street.

Keith from Dream Hairdressing is appealing to anyone who may have seen a grey plastic box containing his business accounts which was also stolen from his hairdressers. If you have any information about the burglaries then call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.