Several businesses in Newgate Street have been targeted in recent months, with one shutting up for good.

The latest break-in took place at Secrets Lingerie, where £22,000 of stock was stolen between 5pm last Wednesday (August 20) and 7.30am the following day.

Owner Christine Irvine, 45, was called by a fellow trader to say the gates to her yard had been broken and the back door was open. She raced to the shop, but barely an item of stock was left.

"The shop had been totally stripped. I just looked through the back door and could see it was empty. Everything had gone," she said.

"I'm devastated. I have put a lot of hard work into the shop and have been working six days a week, sometimes seven. When you're in business on your own you have to build it up so you want to put as much work in as you can. To see it like this is just so upsetting."

Mrs Irvine is a relative newcomer to the retail trade after 26 years working as a lab team leader.

However, she dreamed of running her own business and opened her exclusive lingerie shop in December, specialising in high quality brands and bridalwear.

There have been crime concerns, such as hanging baskets being vandalised and the replacement displays stolen, a purse snatch and an abusive visitor.

But the burglary has come as a major blow.

"I was trying to bring something different to Morpeth town centre. I started at a difficult time with the town's redevelopment going on and the economic climate the way it is, but I thought that if I could get through that, I could get through anything. Something like this just completely knocks your confidence though," she said.

"When you have built up a business and started to get a good customer base and established a good reputation, for somebody to come along and do this is devastating.

"When I first saw the shop after the break-in I was finished with it and wouldn't carry on, but I've now decided I'm going to continue.

"I'm putting a big notice in the shop window to say sorry to the customers for the disruption and I will resume business as soon as I get more stock."

However, another trader has left the street after thieves broke into her hairdressing salon about a month ago.

The 21-year-old businesswoman, who does not wish to be named, worked at the salon for five years, taking it over herself two years ago.

"They took everything — rollers, hair straighteners, dyes, all the machinery, a CD player, the First Aid box, telephones and all my stock. They cleared everything out, there was nothing left," she said.

"It would have cost a fortune to replace everything and who's to say they wouldn't come back?

"I don't feel safe being in the shop now so I had to close it down."
Barber Doug Johnson, who shares the first floor premises for his Top Knot business, was also burgled and lost hundreds of pounds of equipment, as well as charity collection boxes.

However, he has decided to carry on with business as usual.

"I have been here for 40 years and it is such a shame after all these years to see this affecting businesses so much," he said.

"It really is disgusting that these people have put a young girl out of business.

"They must be despicable people to steal charity boxes. We have had them for years and people are so grateful for the money. It's so sad."

Trader Michael Ritson, of Newgate Street Tiles, was another victim, losing £2,500 of stock in a break-in a few months ago.

"Nobody can afford to lose that," he said.

"Before the burglary we had hanging baskets snapped three times, two were pinched and a tub was stolen as well.

"Just one flower tub is bad enough, but to steal somebody's livelihood is another matter. It's just ridiculous."

Florist Cynthia Fair, of F.H. Hardy, recently relocated from the unit below Top Knot to move further up the street.

The vacant premises were broken into three times in six weeks and an electricity meter was stolen, while the gas meter was taken from outside her new shop in February.

"The nuisance factor is unbelievable," she said.

"The cost of putting a new meter in was going to be thousands of pounds and we had no hot water.

"It's uncomfortable to think somebody has been round here looking to break in and they may have tried somewhere else."

Police are investigating the incidents, but are keeping an open mind as to whether or not they are connected.

Morpeth Inspector Mick Dwyer said: "We are following up a number of lines of inquiry into these incidents, but at this stage there is nothing obvious to link these break-ins.

"Although shops have their own security measures, we would encourage traders, shoppers and passers-by to report any suspicious behaviour or suspicious customers they see in shops so we can take appropriate action. Any traders seeking extra crime prevention advice should also get in touch with us."

Anyone who has information about any of the break-ins should contact Morpeth CID on 03456 043043, extension 61145.