Businesses have been ransacked and staff assaulted amid a wave of crime from children between Goring and Hove.

The crimewave has been so bad that 30 notorious children were listed on a ‘wanted’ style poster by British Transport Police, dubbed the West Coast Nominals.

Two of those children were brothers Archie and George Tilley who almost killed Worthing dad Alan Willson on April 4 last year.

The Argus has reported on several incidents since launching our investigation on Tuesday.

Where are Sussex Police at with their investigations?

Seven of the 11 cases we have reported on so far for our investigation are part of ongoing investigations from police. Five of these cases were thefts.

Two of the cases were an arson attack at a platform cafe in Worthing Station and a “deliberate” wheelie bin fire behind Co-op in Field Place Parade, Durrington.

Some of the alleged thefts include stealing spray paint from a hardware store, hundreds of pounds worth of cigarettes from a Tesco, and an incident where items were stolen and “shopping baskets thrown” at staff in a Co-op.

Girls stealing from Tesco in Denmark Villas, Hove, on July 18 (Image: Newsquest)

The incident where three boys were arrested for “throwing shopping baskets” at staff is alleged to have happened at the Co-op, Durrington.

The three boys, two 14-year-olds and one 13-year old, were all arrested on suspicion of affray, robbery, assault and more. They have been bailed pending further enquiries.

Two girls, aged 14 and 12, were arrested but released pending further enquiries after an arson attack at Worthing Station on June 13.

Worthing Station where a bookshelf was set alight at 5am on June 13. Right shows charred walls and ceiling following the arson attack

Five of the thefts we are aware of are part of “ongoing” investigations. These happened between June 18 and August 1.

The other thefts, which include vapes, alcohol and spray paint being taken, are still ongoing.

"Insufficient evidence"

Two of the thefts have been filed due to “insufficient evidence”.

One of these was on July 15 at the same Co-op in Durrington.

The other was an incident where a plasterboard saw was stolen from Strandways Hardware store on May 28 on the same high street.

Sussex Police said it has spoken with the business owner to update them on the situation with this investigation.

Sent to court

From stories we have reported, the force has made two arrests for youth crime.

The first was when a group of youths targeted a Co-op and vape shop on February 21.

The alleged offences include spitting at shopworkers and smashing a shop window with a metal pole.

Kwik Vape in Tarring Road, Worthing, had its window smashed. A 14-year-old boy is standing trial on December 12

A 14-year-old boy was arrested and released under investigation.

The boy has now been charged with two counts of assault and one count of criminal damage. He is due to stand trial on December 12.

The second case was on March 7 when a boy swung at a shopworker with a kitchen knife at Budgens in Boxgrove, Goring.

He appeared before Worthing Youth Court on April 14 and was sentenced for threatening a person with a bladed article.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “A two-year youth rehabilitation order was imposed. This includes supervision, along with an extended activity requirement of 91 days.

"A three-month curfew was imposed with an electronic monitoring tag. A £22 victim surcharge was imposed on the boy's parent/guardian.”

On March 13, a 13-year-old boy was stabbed in Worthing town centre near McDonalds.

Two boys have plead not guilty and will appear in court on November 4.

Another boy was due to be sentenced on August 12, but Sussex Police did not have the recorded outcome of that hearing yet.

A boy was stabbed on March 13. Two boys are standing trial on November 4

Sussex Police said it has a business crime team that works alongside business crime reduction partnerships (BCRPs) across the county, including in Worthing.

Chris Neilson, force business crime lead, said: “Sussex Police is focused on supporting businesses and investigating business crimes.

“The unit has a team of investigators dedicated to investigating business crimes, especially theft from shops and violence against shopworkers and business staff. Business crime is not a victimless crime.

“We also work closely with businesses and BCRPs, identifying prolific offenders and bringing them to justice as well as seeking opportunities for diversion and prevention of further offences through civil orders."