A 12-DAY crimewave in Bromsgrove was yesterday dubbed "rare" by police as they sought to reassure worried residents the town has not become an easy target for criminals.

The crimes included raids by armed, masked gangs, the theft of a valuable lorry laden with breakfast cereal, numerous sneak-in thefts and handbags snatches.

By chance the spate coincides with local police this week trumpeting their success with their Operation Tango, aimed at cutting violent crime, and West Mercia's force wide record which shows an overall reduction in incidents.

Eight days ago two men wearing balaclavas, one brandishing a long knife, held up staff at the Little Chef restaurant at Belbroughton.

Two days later masked raiders broke into Threshers wine shop in Bromsgrove town centre just feet away from a CCTV camera.

On Sunday a £60,000 lorry and its cargo of £20,000 worth of breakfast cereal was stolen from Aston Fields.

Since then police have warned shoppers to be on guard after bags were snatched on a car park again under the gaze of security cameras.

An as we reported last week on September 1 a gunman held up Marlgrove petrol station in Birmingham Road.

And in recent months serious crimes in the district have included a stabbing at Charford, a shooting in Barnt Green, and a £3,000 distraction burglary at a Bromsgrove pub.

Yesterday, in response to the questions of whether criminals are becoming blas about CCTV and if Bromsgrove is becoming increasingly lawless, a West Mercia police spokesman said: "CCTV is an effective tool in the fight against crime and has proved useful in Bromsgrove. There have been some serious incidents recently that are being fully investigated. There are some criminals who will not be deterred by CCTV.

"Police are committed to cracking down on serious crime in Bromsgrove as they are across the force area.Incidents of this nature are rare for Bromsgrove and taken very seriously by police who are working in partnership with other agencies to improve the quality of life for Bromsgrove people."