A GREAT-grandmother who had thousands of pounds worth of blinds stolen from outside her pie and mash shop in broad daylight has spoken of her fears about crime in Wanstead.

Pensioner June Robins, 71, was left with a bill totalling nearly £10,000 after thieves took one of a set of custom-made screens from the front of Robins Pie and Mash shop in the High Street while a staff member put the rest away.

Mrs Robins, who would have to sell more than 3,000 plates of pie and mash to cover the £2,400 cost of the stolen blind combined with a £7,000 bill for a full replacement installed this week - said the theft was a sign of the times.

She said: "I was shocked when I heard what had happened. I had to get a whole new set made and that's a hell of a lot of money for a small business to have to find.

"One of my staff was putting the side blinds away after we'd closed and when he came back the front blind had been taken.

"To think things like this could happen at around 4pm on a Sunday afternoon in Wanstead is disgusting.

"I have shops in Romford and other places but never had anything like this happen before.

"Sadly I think it just shows the level of crime there is in Wanstead now.

"I've lived here for many years, and until recently crimes like this would have been a real surprise, but not anymore. You get stabbings and muggings now which would have been unthinkable not so long ago.

Mrs Robins, who opened the shop in April, said she could not understand why thieves decided to target the blinds.

She said: "I'm really angry about what happened but have no idea what the person responsible thinks they are going to do with it unless they're going to attach it to a shop.

"I've had some strange things stolen before but nothing like this."

Anyone with information about the theft, which took place on Sunday September 20 should call Ilford police station on: 8478 1123.