POLICE said “criminality is unacceptable” after a spate of damages caused to Taunton town centre shops in the last two weeks.

Several shops had their windows smashed or damaged while others were also broken into.

On Monday, August 7 a window was smashed at Brazz and on Friday, August 10 a break-in took place on Magdalene Street.

Two shops on Riverside Place were also damaged last week.

The Shed, a coffee shop in Goodland Gardens, was broken into twice recently.

Somerset County Gazette: A side window was damaged tooA side window was damaged too (Image: Newsquest)

The front door, now boarded up, was damaged and customers are currently accessing the shop through the side door.

A side window was boarded up too after being damaged.

Inspector Michael Griffiths, of the Taunton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “Last week there were a number of acts of criminal damage and burglaries affecting business premises in Taunton.

"Such criminality is unacceptable and officers have been tasked with examining CCTV footage and taking witness statements, which led to arrests and one individual already being brought before the courts.

"A 32-year-old man has been charged in connection with a window being smashed at the Castle Hotel on Monday 7 August and he will be back in court next week.

"We have also arrested a man, in his 30s, in relation to a burglary at a restaurant in Magdalene Street that happened on Friday 10 August.

"Members of the neighbourhood team have been speaking to business owners in recent days and carrying out further enquiries to help us identify the person, or persons, responsible, in addition to high-visibility foot patrols in the town centre.

"We know how important those patrols are, both for reassurance but also for crime prevention.

"The average number of recorded crimes in the centre of Taunton has reduced year-on-year, but we continue to work with the antisocial behaviour team to reduce such issues further.

"Recently we have worked with other agencies and organisations in creating a town centre retail group where business owners can raise concerns about any issues, including crime.

“At the most recent meeting, a PCSO attended and we received positive feedback about the police presence in the town centre.

"We will continue to attend these meetings and would encourage further uptake from business owners so we can collectively work together for the best of the town.

"We'd urge any business that has been affected recently and not reported the crime to please report it so we can fully investigate. Witnesses are asked to call 101 and give reference number 5223189318."