A trader has blasted police after suffering five major crimes at his shop.

Stefan Simmonds, director of Body & Soul beauty shop in Cheapside, Cleckheaton, said in the last year he had experienced an ongoing run of crime.

"We've had a till snatch, a safe theft where they took out a wall at the back of the shop to steal the safe, and over the last three months we've had the windows and shutters pulled out every month and most of our Christmas perfume stock stolen," said Mr Simmonds.

"This problem relates to the allocation of resources and the ineffectiveness of the criminal investigation. I haven't had any feedback from police about four of the crimes. CID are being very sparse with their information."

Mr Simmonds said Cleckheaton needed more than a community constable.

"I don't think it's unfair or unreasonable to say to police we want mobile, frequently random patrols of our town at night," he said. "We are being under-resourced in terms of police presence in the evening when I think most of these crimes take place. Staff are unsettled and think everyone who comes into the shop is a potential thief."

A police spokesman said: "Cleckheaton has had a dedicated police bobby for some time now, working closely with the Chamber of Trade.

"The area has had repeated attention by the Community Orientated Problem Solving team over the last few months - in the evenings and night-time patrols.

"Police are doing as much as they can in the area to prevent such crimes."

Police have arranged for a crime prevention officer to visit Mr Simmonds.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dewsbury police on (01924) 431059.