WIMBORNE shop owners have spoken of their anger after their stores were targeted during a spate of distraction thefts in the town.

Clothing worth hundreds of pounds was stolen from Berties Country and Millets on Saturday afternoon, with cash and keys taken from Gullivers Bookshop.

The offenders also entered the WH Smith store, although nothing was taken according to the manager.

David Rosier, owner of Berties Country, said it was not until one of his customers chased the thieves down the street that he realised what had happened.

“It was a very busy Saturday afternoon in the shop, and four people came in and started using distraction tactics. One told a staff member to go up a ladder to get a bag down. I was busy serving customers.

“I had an awful feeling something was happening, but it wasn’t till one customer started chasing two girls who had taken some coats that I knew for certain.

“We have high definition cameras in the shop, and looking at the CCTV later on I saw three of them had crowded around one unit and rolled up five or six items.”

He added: “It’s not the first time we’ve had shoplifters, it comes with the territory of having a shop. Last year we had a Katie Price lookalike steal some trousers.”

Jane Roberts, who owns Gullivers Bookshop, said she and a colleague were also subjected to distraction tactics shortly before the theft.

“It was three girls. One of them took my colleague right to the back of the store while I was busy serving a customer. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed another woman leaning into our office. As soon as I could, I asked if there was anything I could help with. She claimed to have dropped a pound coin, but then said she must have been mistaken. They all left the store then.

“Afterwards, the staff member went into the office and saw his pay-packet had gone missing. Somebody had gone through the drawers and some cash had been stolen, as well as the back door keys.”

She added: “We’re an independent, family-run business, and bookstores don’t make a massive amount of money as it is. It makes me angry as we work really hard to make a living. These thieves were obviously very skilled.”

A spokesman for Dorset Police confirmed they had received reports of all three thefts, which happened from around 4pm onwards. Nine jackets were also reportedly taken from Millets.

“Officers are investigating all of these incidents, which are believed to be connected. No arrests have been made,” he added.