Owners of small businesses fear their livelihoods could be dealt a serious blow following a spate of break-ins.

A number of businesses in and around Enfield Town have been subject to break-ins since the summer with laptops and £3,000 worth of sunglasses being taken.

Owners are now demanding that action is taken.

Garry Kousoulou, who owns Good Looking Optics, in Genotin Road, Enfield Town, had thousands of pounds worth sunglasses stolen from his shop last month.

He said: “When something like this happens you feel very unsettled, like your own space has been violated, and it is happening all over the town.

“This has a major impact on business for many shops because people who want to shop here or even set up a small business will worry about coming to an area where regular break-ins happen.”

Mr Kousoulou has offered a £1,000 reward for his sunglasses.

Kaya Halil, who runs Kapture Me, in Savoy Parade, has called for an added police presence in the area after his shop was broken into early one morning.

He said: “It’s not just about what they took but what they leave behind. We need more protecting small businesses because they are the heartbeat of the town.

“Everyone is nervous about which shop could be hit next. We all work incredibly hard to run our businesses and pay our business rates, so for this to keep on happening is very frustrating.”

The owner hopes businesses can pull together to stop the alarming trend.

He said: “Maybe if we are all on the lookout for each other that could help, keep our community spirit going.”

Saffee Dineen of Training Temple, in Southbury Road believes there have been more than 15 incidents and enough is enough.

She said: “It is a challenging situation that businesses are in because we know it is happening but no action appears to have been taken.

“Some incidents seem opportunistic but many sound exactly the same, which would indicate that it is the same people carrying out the break-ins.”

Emma Rigby, of community group Love Your Doorstep added: “It’s hard enough as it is at the moment and I would like to encourage small businesses to look at what they have in place, security-wise.”

Abi Osman, of Enfield Police, said: "Police in Enfield are investigating a number of burglaries, which took place between August 2014 and October 2014 in the Enfield Town business area.

"Local officers have increased patrols in these areas and have also visited victims of burglaries and neighbouring business premises to raise awareness of burglary and ensure that crime prevention advice is provided.

"While Neighbourhood Teams go about usual business, they are also on the look out for known burglars or anyone acting suspiciously, they are supported by unmarked police vehicles and plain clothed officers who patrol with the intention of catching burglars in the act.

"The plain clothed officers and the neighbourhood teams are both very useful tools in the fight against burglary, but the most effective resource that police have is assistance from the community."