A POPULAR sweet shop in Little Lever was targeted by thieves during a break-in.

Cash from the till at the Lots O Sweets shop was stolen after thieves wrenched metal bars from the back window and broke in.

Shop owners Alice More and her daughter Amy Wellsby are now appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

The break-in happened last week bet-ween 5pm on Thursday and 8am on Friday.

Ms More, aged 59, who has run the sweet shop for two years, said: “They climbed on the dustbin, pulled the wrought iron bars back and broke in through the window.

“We’ve been very hurt and upset by the whole thing.

“Even the children that come in on their way to school were upset about it and talking about it on BBM (Blackberry Messenger). It just seems such a shame that somebody would do this because we’re the ones who lose out.

“It’s not worth putting in an insurance claim but we’ll still have to pay for the damage.”

Lots O Sweets is one of three businesses in Little Lever that have been broken into this month.

A trespasser went behind the till at the Bolton Hospice shop and stole £20 on February 6.

Overnight on February 1 burglars broke into hairdressing salon Studio 48, and stole loose change from the till.

In January there was burglary at Jazz Hair Company in Church Street, in which GHD straighteners, a laptop and cash were stolen.

However, police say burglaries have fallen “significantly” in Little Lever since last year.

Between June 1, and October 1, there were 21 burglaries at homes, while between October 1, and February 14, there were two.

In the same period there were 17 burglaries in shops, sheds and outbuildings, and 13 from October 1 to yesterday.

Insp Kevin Lister, of Bolton South Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Although three in February is still significant, it is less than eight months ago.

“We have been running operations and newsletters have been sent out to the businesses to make them aware. We need to make sure that people are phoning us with information if they notice anything unusual.”