A GANG of travelling shoplifters has descended on Redditch and is stripping local shops.

One shop lost £700 of stock in a day and now local traders have been warned to look out for the gang.

Sergeant Colin West, and town crime prevention officer, told an audience of traders the gang operated in groups of three or four.

"Usually they will go into shops and distract staff while others steal cash and or high value goods such as jewellery," he said.

"They may use fights or arguments in one part of the store while stealing in another."

Small towns were not immune from organised shoplifting, said Sgt West.

"Traders are often not as wary as they should be. If they see these people coming in they should be very careful."