SHOP staff in Fareham have been warned to take more care of their possessions while at work after a spate of thefts from backrooms.

Thieves posing as shoppers are walking into staff communal rooms, storerooms or kitchens and stealing handbags, purses and bags of shopping.

Hundreds of pounds in cash has been stolen in the last three weeks from West Street shops and offices.

Det Sgt Ray Hallett said: "Shop staff should be more careful about leaving their valuables in back rooms.

"They should be aware that items in storerooms, rest rooms and kitchens are just as valuable as the normal stock, which they tend to take more care over.''

He said the success of the deterrent of the West Street closed circuit network outside shops might have forced thieves to seek easier targets.

"Some shops have security cameras inside, but they are not always trained on the back rooms, but naturally, on shelves and stock areas,'' he said

"Thieves know this and know staff are preoccupied with other customers and watching and dealing with them, so they take advantage.''

The latest four thefts, on Thursday and Friday, were from stores in West Street.