THE proprietor of a designer outlet is considering her future after being targeted by ram-raiders for the fifth time.

In just five days, Smarty's was hit twice by smash and grab raiders who fled with £16,000 of children's designer gear.

Mrs Karen Hodkiss, the owner of the Bury town centre shop, told the Bury Times: "I am sickened, this latest raid has knocked me for six. How much more can I or my family take?"

She added: "Part of me wants to give up, yet another part of me says why should I, I haven't done anything wrong." Smarty's was opened in November 1997, and was hit by ram-raiders within five days. They struck again in March 1998 and August 1999.

Despite spending thousands of pounds on security, including bars and steel-lining the walls, the shop was again attacked by thieves last Thursday (May 25) and on Tuesday (May 30) of this week when a side wall was smashed in.

"Even the police said they were impressed by the security but the ram-raiders still get in and walk away, without any fear of being caught," said Mrs Hodkiss.

"I could get the side wall steeled, but it's money which I haven't got. At the moment I can't even go down to the shop, I just burst into tears. These people do not know what grief they cause."

Mrs Hodkiss (40), who lives in Rossendale, decided to set up a business in Bury after seeing an opening in the designer clothes market.

"I was delighted when I got the premises and thought this was really it for me," she said.

"If only I had known what was going to happen."

Bury police are investigating the latest raids.