SHOPKEEPERS are being warned to be on guard after a spate of distraction burglaries in which Eastern European thieves 'swamp' a store.

The move follows a latest burglary at Nilus minimarket, Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, in which £260- worth of jewellery was taken from a flat above the shop.

Police said that six Eastern European men entered the store and collected items like sweets and drinks, and while queing to pay for the goods one of them snuck upstairs to grab the jewellery.

DC Dan Perkins, of Blackburn CID said it was the fourth such burglary in the area in the past two weeks.

On Monday, April 30 cash was taken from Garden Village Stores, Sough Road, Darwen.

On Sunday, May 6 cash was taken from Booze Busters, Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, but on Monday, May 7 a similar attempt on Sudellside Grocers, Sudellside, was thwarted after the shop assistant noticed what was going on.

DC Perkins said it was possible that all four were linked.

During the most recent burglary DC Perkins said that a 45-year-old shop keeper had been working in the shop alone.

He said: "She knew something was going on, but because she was on her own did not feel that she was capable of challenging six men."

The men paid for the items, said DC Perkins, before leaving the store.

The women went upstairs, suspecting something had been taken, and found that a plain gold chain, gold studs, and costume jewellery were missings.

He said: "I would warn all shopkeepers like corner shops and newsagents to be on their guard.

"They seem to being targeted because they don't have that many staff.

"This swamping tactic is a recognised method used by Eastern European criminals."

He said he was surveying CCTV footage and hoped to release descriptions of the Eastern European looking men soon.

Anyone with information about any of the incidents should call 01254 51212.