A CRIMEWAVE is sweeping Wanstead High Street.

At least two banks and a supermarket have been robbed in recent weeks, while the number of burglaries and muggings have also increased.

During one bank raid a cash box containing £19,000 was swiped from a security guard, while at Somerfield £13,000 worth of cigarettes were stolen in a daring night-time heist.

Police, the council, and shopkeepers have all said the worsening economy is partly to blame for the rise in crime, but the authorities have been quick to emphasise that Wanstead and Woodford are still some of the safest areas to live in London.

But in response, many shopkeepers have stepped up their security while police have said they will increase patrols and undercover work in an effort to combat burglaries.

And on Tuesday (March 10) angry shoppers fought back, when a group of people chased a suspected thief through the streets of Wanstead after he snatched a woman’s handbag on the High Street.

A man was arrested by police and remains in custody.

In the last 12 month to February there were over 24,200 crimes reported in Redbridge, compared to 22,300 over the same period last year.

However many fear the situation could be worse than the official statistics show, with many crimes going unreported.

Police told the Guardian they had no record on the raid on a cash in transit van outside Barclay’s on February 11 - despite a spokesman for the bank confirmed it had happened.

One shopkeeper, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s common knowledge that there are loads of robberies going on in the High Street that go unreported and it’s got noticeable worse recently.”

Warren Beadle, store manager of Somerfield, said: “I think part of it is the credit crunch.

“There’s been a big increase in shoplifting in just the last few months. People are stealing everything from cheese to chewing gum, and we’ve seen them selling on food they’ve just shoplifted in the pubs.

"I’ve witnessed people selling legs of lamb that have been shoplifted straight out of Marks and Spencer’s.”

Nish Pau, manager of Londis, said: “We’re constantly worried about people breaking in. The economy is affecting everyone on the High Street.”

The cash box raid outside the Abbey National on Monday March 2, while the Somerfield burglarly happened between 1am and 3am on Tuesday March 3.

Witnesses to the Wanstead High Street snatch are urged to call police on 8345 2612, while witnesses to the bank robberies shoudl call 8345 4226.