POLICE in Horwich are clamping down on shoplifters after a spate of incidents in the town.

Since the start of December, last year, police arrested six people for shoplifting offences and are now analysing their CCTV images in a bid to track down three more thieves.

Pc Andy Vernon, the beat officer for Horwich, said "shoplifting seemed to be increasing, as the number of offences was usually minimal.

"We are having a lot of shoplifting in the town centre and we think the offenders may be coming in from out of town," said Pc Vernon.

He said the Sommerfield supermarket in Lee Lane, and Late Shop in Winter Hey Lane, were being targeted by the thieves.

In one incident, £100 worth of meat was stolen from Sommerfield, with other thefts ranging from food stuffs to toiletries.

"Now we are looking at CCTV and trying to track down three shoplifters for thefts at the two supermarkets.

"At the moment we think they are separate incidents. Both stores have good security cameras and it is very likely that we will identify the offenders," said Pc Vernon.

He added: "Sometimes shoplifting is thought of as not being a serious offence. But it can have a negative effect on local businesses and it is something we are not prepared to tolerate in Horwich."

Three of the six arrests resulted in prison sentences for the shoplifters. A fourth offender was given a Community Punishment Order.

Last year, one of Boltons most prolific shoplifters was banned from the town centre after racking up 113 convictions for dishonesty.

Wayne Frank Haslam, aged 38, of the Salvation Army Hostel, Duke Street, Bolton, repeatedly stole from shops in the town centre - despite being banned from them by traders.

Bolton magistrates agreed to issue a two year Anti-Social Behaviour Order against Haslam, after he admitted to shoplifting on two occasions.

Anyone with any information about shoplifters in Horwich is asked to call police on 0161 872 5050.