WORRIED traders in Leigh have issued a warning after a spateof shoplifting incidents.

It comes after thieves struck in the Broadway and Leigh Road - in one case becoming aggressive when confronted.

It has prompted victims to upgrade their security and CCTV cameras to deter the crooks.

Phil Hunter, who owns the home furnishings shop Connections Interiors, in Leigh Road, confronted two thieves who were braxen enough to walk in with a huge fabric bag, before loading a Guzzini espresso coffee machine and a knife block into it.

He said: “The man started threatening me saying ‘What are you going to do about it? “

“I don’t think they were banking on anyone approaching them, but it didn’t make any difference, unless you wanted to get into a fight."

The theft happened at about 5pm on Wednesday and involved a shabbily dressed couple who were white and aged 33 to 35. The woman had a spotty complexion and had long brown hair with a clip in the back, the man was short and muscley.

He has now improved his security as has Justine Heal, who owns Just Fox, in Leigh Broadway, who was also targeted.

She said: “I want to warn other traders in Leigh, and let other people know that I’m not an easy target.”

She had a woman wander in and steal a gold jacket and a Morgan top which is very distinctive as it is one of just three in the UK.

It happened at about 3pm on March 5 and the shoplifter was a white woman with dark curly hair in a ponytail, wearing jeans and trainer.

She said that since then they had three suspicious women come in and rifle through their stock. She feels they would have taken something if they hadn’t kept a close watch on them.

However, Sgt Steve Parry,of Leigh police, said they were not getting any more reports than normal.

He said: “I’m not aware of any particular spike or trends along the Leigh Road.”

But they have a dedicated team to target shoplifters in the Leigh area as part of Operation Julep.

Anyone with information should call Leigh police on 101.