Business owners in Wyke have issued a desperate plea for more to be done to tackle crime.

Their call follows a spate of raids in recent months, which have forced some to consider shutting up shop completely.

Jessica Evans, 27, owns The Sweetie People, Gifts by the Sweetie People and The Ice Cream People, which are all in the centre of Wyke, Bradford.

Miss Evans’ businesses have been hit five times - twice in the past week. Last Wednesday, around £4,000 of stock was stolen and then last night, she said the main window of the shop was smashed, shutters were dragged open and two slush machines worth £6,000 were stolen.

Speaking before last night's incident, Miss Evans said: “We had a bad year last year, it’s getting worse and worse.

“It’s coming to a point where our businesses are becoming almost uninsurable.

“I have already said that if it happens to me again, I am going.

“I just can’t afford it. There’s only so many times you can recover from it.

“I employ five staff and it’s getting to a point where I am struggling to pay their wages.

“It’s costing me a fortune, if it happens again, my business will close down.”

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This morning, she said she was waiting to hear from her insurance company before making any decisions and that she was "devastated" at what had happened. 

She said: "It has been five times this year - what do you do?

"It's ok people saying 'get this, get that' - but where does the money come from?"

Richard Bolland, 57, owns The Village Fish and Chip Shop, on Town Gate. His business was targeted in November last year, when he was attacked and money was stolen. The shop was hit again in April.

Mr Bolland said: “I drive to work in a morning, I drive past the door and there’s a feeling of dread to look, just to see ‘has it been done again?’”

He and others are now calling for CCTV or street cameras to be installed as a deterrent.

Mr Bolland added: “We bring employment, we bring a vibrant town centre, with a variety of businesses, but we can’t weather this.”

Inspector Dan Ware, of Bradford South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Commercial burglaries are always taken extremely seriously and we will continue to do all we can in order to bring those responsible to justice.

“Our neighbourhood policing team regularly patrols Wyke and the Town Gate area and we will continue to investigate all reports made to us.

“I would urge any businesses or anyone who has been a victim of burglary or attempted burglary to please report it to police.”

Anyone with information about any burglaries in the Wyke area it asked to contact West Yorkshire Police via 101 or anonymously to independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.