A trader is fed up after her shop was burgled despite her reporting five attempted break-ins in the last three months to police.

Thieves knocked through the rear wall of Forget Me Nots newsagents, in Warden Bay Road, on Sunday, July 8, to steal £3,000 worth of cigarettes and £200 cash.

Police have arrested two people, but proprietor Janet Clare feels it could have been prevented.

She said: “The amount of crime that is concentrated in this little area is ridiculous.

“It’s the fact that I have had no help whatsoever or support.

“I just do not feel that what could have been done, was done. Why didn’t they [police] send someone to follow up with me? Why didn’t the PCSOs do a bit of digging? Why don’t people round here stop their families committing crimes?

“So much more could have been done to prevent it because I knew they were going to get in. They sat there chiselling away for hours, there was no stopping them.”

The 51-year-old said she had turned up to the shop previously to signs of forced entry, including damage to the steel shutters, marks on the roof and rendering on the back wall had been chipped away.

Mrs Clare, who has traded in Warden for 22 years, bought the shop four years ago and said this was the second time burglars had broken through a wall.

A 30-year-old man from Essex and a 15-year-old boy from Leysdown were arrested on July 9 and were bailed until September 15.

Insp Noel Stanley, from Island Neighbourhood Team, said: “Clearly everyone has a responsibility to protect their property and we regularly work with the retail community to offer advice.

“Indeed, the local crime prevention design adviser has visited Mrs Clare to offer her advice and recommendations as to how she can further secure her property to reduce the risk of it being targeted.

“A local sergeant is also arranging for local officers to visit the premises.”

Four burglaries and one attempted burglary took place at Little Groves Caravan and Chalet Park, in Leysdown Road, Leysdown, over the weekend of July 7.

Thieves stole hundreds of pounds worth of televisions, cash, DVDs and clothing.

There have been no arrests so far.

Police are urging owners to be security conscious and remove all items of value from their holiday homes when they are not occupied.