A HAMPSHIRE business leader has called for more police action after raiders targeted three major stores in the town centre in a series of raids.

Now businesses have been urged to tighten security following the burglaries in the space of just one week.

Bradbeers department store, Boots and McColl’s newsagents, all next door to each other in The Hundred and Market Place, were targeted by criminals over the course of the past week as shops prepared for the Christmas rush.

Police do not believe that these raids are linked but the president of the Romsey and District Chamber of Commerce, Peter Speirs, said more needs to be done.

He said the town as a target for criminals as its main police station was now unmanned.

“Romsey is seen as a soft tough to criminals,” said Mr Speirs. “There’s lots of independent businesses that are here. It’s quite worrying to know that we haven’t got any protection.”

He added: “[Business leaders] feel that there’s not protection. They feel response times are pretty poor.”

Hampshire police have responded by saying the force aimed to do its very best with the resources available to reduce the levels of threat to the public including the business community, in Romsey

Shoppers found one of the entrances to Boots in The Hundred taped up after the raiders “prized open” the doors and took “thousands and thousands” pound’s worth of fragrances and a cash till.

A similar scene was found last Thursday at the Bell Street entrance to Bradbeers department store where thieves smashed through a pair of glass doors.

In less than 90 seconds the raiders took thousands of pound’s worth of fragrances sometime between 1.50am and 2.05am on December 16Wednesday morning December 16.

Owner Greg Davies, whose family have owned the store since 1837, said the last time the store was raided was eight years ago.

He said: “This doesn’t normally happen in Romsey. For it to happen three times in a week I think is strange.”

Three men, one from Romsey and two 32 and 33 from Southampton have been arrested in connection with this incident and have been bailed to appear at Southampton police station on February 18.

The raid at Boots is understood took have taken place sometime around 5am on Monday.

Store manager Rachael Davis said any orders in time for Christmas would be honoured.

She added: “It’s just a bit weird that all three of us were done in the past week.”

More than £2,000-worth of cigarettes and tobacco was also taken from McColl’s between 8pm on Friday December 18 and 4.55am on Saturday December 19 when it was reported to police.

The thieves “popped open” the front door and stole the tobacco.

Chief Inspector Kory Thorne, district commander for Test Valley, said: “Neighbourhood Policing teams and Police Community Safety Officers based at Romsey play an active role in our effort to prevent and detect crime.

“In addition response and patrol officers from all over the county are available to react to incidents as and when they take place. We aim to do our very best with the resources we have available to reduce the levels of threat, risk and harm to our communities, including the business community, in Romsey.

“We will continue to work with local organisations in the Test Valley to make sure the area is a safe place to live, work and visit.”

Anyone with any information about these incidents at should contact Hampshire police by calling 101 and quoting reference number 44150439733 (Bradbeers) 44150444599 (McColl’s) 44150446857 (Boots).