SHOPOWNER Jill Tucker's store, Handy Wool, in Calne, has been repeatedly targeted by burglars in the past three years.

On Saturday night, vandals smashed a front window pane of the shop, which had been reinforced with toughened glass, and stole about £40 of giftware.

Mrs Tucker said thieves had also smashed the window two or three months ago, taking about £20 of giftware.

"We seem to get vandalised once every two to three months," she said.

Mrs Tucker, 40, has run the shop, which is split in to a wool section and a giftware area, with mum Joy Kitson for about ten years, since it moved to Oxford Road, Calne.

She said dad Paul Kitson replaces the windows, because it would cost too much to repair through insurance. "We have been here for about ten years, but I would say in about the last two to three years things have got really bad," she said.

Mrs Tucker said the attacks usually happen at weekends.

"I think it's kids, because the things taken are never items stolen to make a living, but more for the sake of stealing," she added.

"It's frustrating and it seems like anything from the shop is being taken."

Mrs Tucker said she suspects passers-by were stealing goods through the broken window on Saturday.

"We didn't find out until 10am the following morning," said Mrs Tucker, who lives in Anchor Road. "By then, the window would have been broken a while and plenty of things could have been taken."

She said the police have never caught anyone for the vandalism and she does not think the culprits of Saturday's burglary will be found.

"I would urge anyone who was around on Saturday night, and saw anything near our shop, to let the police know," said Mrs Tucker.

PC Annette Batch, of Calne Police, said officers are keen to trace the perpetrators. "There have been problems before at the shop and we are looking for witnesses," said PC Batch. "It is on the main road and it's quite possible people will have seen others in front of the shop."

Witnesses are urged to call Calne Police on (01249) 812106.