Driver Janet French's car was broken into twice in the same week at the Westgate - even while security staff were still operating normally.

Following the first incident, on September 17, a security guard admitted he had seen the thief at work - levering open the door and smashing its windows - before making off with a CD collection and new disc player, sunglasses worth 200 and a hands-free phone kit.

The guard later said he had not been able to give chase because of an injured knee. Police told Miss French, of Abingdon Road, Standlake, they could only issue her with a crime number as they had insufficient funds to do more.Janet French

A week later, her car suffered 70 damage during a second break-in, although this time there was nothing for the thief to take. The same guard was again a witness, but did not give pursuit because of his knee.

This time the police said they would take finger prints as their criminal damage budget would

allow it, but did not turn up to do the tests.

Miss French, said: "I am disgusted by the attitude of the security guard, and I'm disgusted by the Westgate centre managers, the city council and the police.

"They waste money painting a car park that is to be demolished to make it pretty for the Millennium, when they should be protecting the people who park there. The police were useless."