CCTV has been installed in Barnards Green after a series of break-ins which have caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
Malvern Hills District Council street scene team has put up three mobile cameras following four retailers on the same side of the street being targeted in the past month.
The latest incident took place on Tuesday, December 17, when thieves kicked in the front door of Barnards Green Butchers.
Before that Colston Bakeries and the Cold Chef café were targeted and Barnards Green Fish Bar had its windows smashed in at the beginning of the month.
Paul Lopeman, owner of Barnards Green Butchers, said he has since fitted four locks and a new panel to the front door as well as install a new alarm system which has cost the business more than £200.
“We heightened security and took cash out of the till after the other break-ins. We barricaded the back door because you think they won’t come in through the front. How wrong we were.”
Mr Lopeman added thankfully the thieves only got away with handfuls of change and left the stock and machinery alone.
“Its worrying to think what would have happened if they had have taken the machinery. It could have been far worse.
“They were after quick cash and couldn’t have been here very long.”
Mike Kalisperas, of Barnards Green Fish Bar, also had to fork out more than £220 when his business was targeted.
He said he had taken the measure of installing an internal camera in his shop but the area had been in need of more extensive coverage for some time.
“In this day and age people shouldn’t be able to break in through the front door.
“Barnards Green is like a town within a town and there have been so many incidents.
“Even if you are insured it is expensive in the long run, it is a lose lose situation for traders, we just have to take it on the chin.
“If these things are constantly happening in a recession, shops will go out of business.”
Ivor Pumfrey, the council’s head of community services, said: “The council’s street scene team have a number of mobile CCTV cameras that can be moved to locations around the district to help deter anti-social behaviour and provide reassurance to the local community.
“The street scene team has recently installed three mobile CCTV cameras in Barnards Green following a number of shop break-ins.
“The cameras are running 24-7 and it’s hoped their presence will help deter any further criminal activity.”
Insp Steph Brighton, from Malvern Hills Safer Neighbourhoods Team, encouraged businesses in the area to take their own security measures and said officers could provide additional advice on preventing burglaries.
