50 crimes a day: Shopkeepers say theft and violence are on the rise

Business in Armley are reporting up to 50 crimes a day as people living in the area say the situation is 'getting worse day by day'.

- by Charles Gray

One incident last week saw police descend on the area when a 17-year-old was stabbed and left in a critical condition at a flat in Wesley Road. A 29-year-old has since been charged with attempted murder.

But the sight of flashing blue lights is something people who regularly visit Armley's nearby Town Street are used to.

A number of business owners said they had been targeted in recent months, while shoppers had witnessed various crimes.

West Yorkshire Police say officers are working closely with partner agencies to tackle crime and urged anyone who witnesses an incident to get in touch.

Mohamed Mohamed, whose family has run the Król Mini Market for seven years, told the YEP his shop windows had been smashed twice and he was frequently the victim of shoplifters.