TRADERS were yesterday warned to stay on their guard after a series of opportunist raids.

Darlington police say there has been an alarming increase in thefts of cigarettes and alcohol from shops.

Chief Superintendent Michael Banks said there had been up to four cases a day of thieves simply removing multi-packs of alcohol from just inside shop doorways.

He said the crimes, which are similar to sneak-in house burglaries, could be averted with greater vigilance from owners of premises.

"Twenty-eight per cent of house burglaries, too, are due to insecure premises and opportunists chancing their arm," he said