Strandways Hardware, which opened in Durrington in 1978, has been targeted by children who have stolen spray paint, lighters and a plasterboard saw.

Brothers Andy and Paul Cooper, who took the business over from their parents, say they were assaulted when they confronted the youths.

They are now considering activating an option in their lease which means the store, in The Strand, could close next year.

It comes as The Argus reported how a spate of youth crime plaguing businesses near the railway lines has got so bad that police created a "wanted" poster of 30 notorious boys and girls  – dubbed the West Coast Nominals.

The parade of shops in Durrington, Co-op is across the road to the right

Andy, 50, said: "If this is still going on or getting worse, an independent business of 45 years could close. We would obviously rather not close.

“The community is disgusted about the situation, people are rallying around.

"This situation is bringing out the good of the community but obviously the concern is these youngsters seem to get away with the minor stuff for too long."

Strandways Hardware store in Durrington

The Argus has reported on the spate of crime plaguing the Worthing area all the way up to Hove.

Several shops on the high street in Durrington have been targeted, including McColl’s convenience store and the Co-op, which is regularly shoplifted, with staff allegedly assaulted.

Andy fears that following the shocking case of Alan Willson - the father who was savagely beaten by three teenagers while defending a boy in a park - someone else could get hurt.

He said: “What they’re doing this week is almost going to become boring next week, it’s getting a fix. When you become bored of shoplifting, who is going to get hurt next?

“There was the case with Alan Willson, someone else is going to get hurt. Why isn’t this being dealt with?

"Start arresting them, take them to police stations and leave them in the cell for a while.”

Shops ransacked in the area

On May 28, a plasterboard saw, which has a pointed tip, was stolen from the shop and Andy said that during a confrontation he was then pushed.

There was “insufficient evidence” for officers to take this case any further.

Sussex Police said they have spoken with the shop owners to update them on the status of the investigation.

Spray paint was stolen on June 27. The brothers also claim they were assaulted after chasing children out of the store. The investigation for this is ongoing.

Durrington has seen a spate of incidents since the turn of the year. Pictured is an unrelated incident to recent youth crime (Image: Newsquest)

They now keep spray paint on the top shelves and most of it out the back but Andy says that despite these measures, children have “climbed up the shelves to get it”.

He added: “On one occasion I wasn’t sure they had stolen anything but one of them was giving a bit of verbal.

"I followed him out of the door, one lad said ‘you can’t touch me’ and the other one shoved both hands into my chest.

“At that point when I was out the store, one of my customers said she saw a girl unpacking a plasterboard saw and throwing the packaging on the floor.

“This is the reason why we've seen Co-op having so many problems, the children know they won’t do anything. They are all employees and are told not to intervene.

“For me if I was to watch them pick something off the shelf and watch them as they leave, I may as well put up a neon sign saying ‘come help yourself’. You will quickly become known as a shop that will do nothing.”

Crime along the Worthing railway line

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, while two were arson attacks.

Two of the cases are going to court. While one case where a boy swung for a shop worker with a knife at Budgens in Boxgrove saw the 14-year-old given a youth rehabilitation order and £22 fine for his parents/guardians.

Sussex Police said they have a business crime team focused specifically on these types of incidents.

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, identifying prolific offenders and bringing them to justice as well as seeking opportunities for diversion and prevention of further offences through civil orders."

Tomorrow: read the story of children piling into a shop to steal vapes in broad daylight.