Cash and valuables were stolen from more than 20 shops on one of Shanghai's most popular clothing streets on Saturday, with losses totaling about 60,000 yuan (US$8,108), Shanghai Morning Post reported today.

A Qipu Road shop owner identified as Lin, the first to discover the burglary, said the metal lock had been cut off at his shop and 1,300 yuan was missing when he arrived yesterday morning.

An employee of another shop, also surnamed Lin, said their two-day sales turnover of almost 23,000 yuan was stolen from a locked drawer. The lock must be cut by sharp tools, said the report.

Shops lost various amounts ranging from 1,000 yuan to 23,000 yuan, including mobile phones, digital cameras and receipts.

"The robbery must have been well-planned as the security cameras showed no records of robbery," a shop owner surnamed Wang told the newspaper.

Most of the shop owners blamed the guard for breach of duty, said the report.

The management department helped the shops install new locks and an official said they would enhance patrols at night to avoid similar cases.

Qipu Road, also known as Cheap Road, is a popular place to buy clothes due to low prices and a large selection.

(Shanghai Daily, December 10, 2007)