POLICE in Leigh have told licensees to step-up security after a spate of thefts from fruit machines.

Criminals have been breaking into pubs in the early hours and raiding cash which has built up inside the games.

The amounts stolen have varied from a few pence to hundreds of pounds.

Police in the town have been alarmed at the sudden rise in these sorts of thefts and have sent letters to every landlord in Leigh, Atherton, Tyldesley, Golborne and Hindley Green, warning them they must improve security.

Ian Halliwell, Community Safety Officer at Leigh police station, said a number of pubs had fallen victim to the raiders in recent weeks.

He added: "We can't name which have been targeted but there has been an increase which originally brought it to our attention. We decided to write to all licensed premises in our sub-division to remind them it is going on and to offer security checks.

"Some of the time the problem is that there has been some sort of alarm system, but the fruit machine has not been covered by it.

"The amounts stolen vary. It depends if the machines have been emptied shortly before the raid or not."

Mr Halliwell said he thought the raids were possibly the work of both organised gangs and opportunist thieves.

The letter being sent out to pub landlords also gives them the opportunity to let the Community Safety Officer visit their premises and check-out their security for free.