A policemen has claimed the force does not have the resources to cope with Basildon town centre shoplifters.
Shops have reported on average ten incidents a day over the past month where goods have been stolen from shelves and displays in the heart of town costing thousands of pounds.
The most popular items include cyber Techno puppy toys along with make-up and clothes.
The culprits range from young schoolchildren to known drug addicts but officers admit there is little they can do to stem the wave of pre-Christmas shoplifting.
Two years ago the town centre police unit had a staff of nine officers. Now there are only four.
PC Alan Barley, of the town centre unit, said: "It is almost out of control. This is just the tip of the iceberg but we just don't have the resources to cope.
"This is the worst year for shoplifting in the town centre I can remember and in simple terms there are not enough of us to cope."
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