CALLOUS thieves are targeting charity shops as part of an organised crime ring that is profiting from stolen goods worth hundreds of pounds.

Clothes, CDs and books are just some of the items that are being snatched by the thieves, crimes which the police have branded as shocking and charity workers have said are sad and desperate.

Julian Moss, Sector Inspector for Bath Police, said: "It is shocking that people are stealing from charity shops. It is horrific and disturbing for us and for the people who work so hard to run these shops."

Bath's biggest charity shop, the Oxfam bookshop on Lower Borough Walls has recently had to withdraw its collection of more than 50 CDs to combat a rising spate of thefts.

Christine Duncan, spokeswoman for the store, said: "These people have no conscience. All our Bath stores are suffering from thefts and we have now had to begin removing things like videos and CDs from the boxes to deter the shoplifters.

"I would say that each shop loses between £100 to £150 a week which for us is a lot of money. We have put posters up in changing rooms reminding people the cost of lost stock to us £4 of goods will feed a starving child for a week but it seems to have no effect."

Banardo's in Oldfield Park said it witnesses a regular stream of shoplifters which it believes works for criminals who are profiting from the sale of goods stolen from their store.

Co-manageress Anne Britten said: "These people are clearly not stealing for themselves they are selling them on. It has passed the level of petty thieves and kleptomaniacs. We are seeing people who are in this to make money.

"It is very sad that shops like ours are being targeted. How desperate can you get?"

The PDSA shop in Westgate Street said it may have to chain its tills down and install a protective glass cabinet to combat the thieves.

Manageress Claire Bees said: "We have thefts on a weekly basis. We recently had the collection box taken from the shop. Men's clothes are very popular with the thieves we have lots of designer jackets and shirts that disappear on a regular basis."

Miss Bees said thieves are also targeting customers who browse the store, with handbags proving a popular target.

She said: "These are truly heartless people and we are doing our best to make sure that the crime in our store is reduced."

Inspector Moss at Bath Police said: "People need to come forward and report to us any incidents that have occurred in their store.

"We would urge any shop that is worried to get in touch with their beat manager who will come and look at the shop and give them advice on things like layout which will make it easier to stop thieves."

Banardo's has drawn up a list of suspects and traders in nearby Moorland Road keep in constant contact.

Anne Britten said: "We would really like CCTV to be installed in Moorland Road. It would act as a deterrent to a problem that is already getting out of hand."