A TERRIBLE amount of theft is taking place in Darwen town centre. We shopkeepers are being robbed blind by a group of young people - all known to us - but can do nothing about it.

We are being made a laughing stock. They walk into our shops, keep us taking while one of them fills a bag and walks our.

We've tried to stop them coming in, but what can we do when we have a busy spell? In they walk, unseen by the one assistant who is trying to serve, use the till, wrap purchases, etc. They are so brazen about it.

They wait and watch and, in a couple of seconds, we've lost £100-worth of goods.

Is there any way we can stop it? Can the police do nothing? Do we all have to be out of jobs because of people with no conscience. I've got to breaking point with it all.

Name and address received.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.