Raiders wielding sledgehammers and crowbars are smashing their way into shops and businesses along a main street in Wolverhampton to steal a small fortune in cash and goods, police warned today.

Officers say organised gangs are regularly hitting businesses in Dudley Road in the dead of night.

The number of break-ins, said by traders to be the worst in two decades, has doubled in recent months. Eleven shops have been burgled since September compared with five between June and August.

Those targeted include Uppal Sweet Centre, Samra Supermarket and Johal Supermarkets.

Two men have been charged with burglary since September, with a 20-year-old man arrested last night accused of breaking into a business in nearby Upper Villiers Street, Blakenhall.

Police say the demolition of Phoenix Rise tower block in Blakenhall and the removal of a neighbourhood wardens office has left the area more exposed and businesses vulnerable to attack.

Sgt Adrian Reeves, of Blakenhall police, said to-day: “These are concerted efforts to break in, ranging from damaging roller shutters to knocking holes in walls with a sledgehammer.

“It’s been supermarkets, where they’ve stolen from tills, to travel agents and shops with large amounts of cigarettes and alcohol.”

One Dudley Road jeweller, who asked not to be named for fear of repeat break-ins, said two men used a crowbar to attack roller shutters and smash a window on October 4. They made off with two trays of jewellery, including gold.

He said: “Our next door neighbours had a burglary around a week later and last week there was a clothes shop that was targeted.”

Salim Shaikh, owner of Shaikh’s barbers, said that on October 28 men with crowbars smashed through the window to take up to £500, hairdryers and a TV.

He said: “I’ve been here for 22 years and I’ve never seen it like this before.”

Sgt Reeves said most burglaries were by opportunistic thieves, but added: “I would say these are not opportunists because of the offence and the planning. You don’t just turn up and decide to knock a hole in the wall.”

Sgt Reeves said officers were encouraging shops in the area to apply for council grants to beef up security.