They say the store is the target of thefts every day, and that some of them have been threatened.

Customers are also being hassled for money, said one assistant.

“They are coming in, filling their bags then running out,” she said.

“We’re plagued with it and I think they are even coming to Douglas from other schemes.

“It’s an older lot There are some in their 40s — not just young people.

“We’ve lost a lot of custom and lots and lots of stock. One lad must have stolen at least £100 worth.”

The staff member also described how one thief stole items from the shelves and ran off, only to change his clothes and return to repeat his crime later that day.

Unbelievably, he then changed again before returning to steal more.

“One of the junkies was even lying on the pavement and making people walk around him into the road,” she said.

“He asked everyone that passed for money.”

On another occasion shop staff found a known drug-user crawling around the shop’s back room in an attempt to get hold of workers’ valuables.

Staff report the thefts and nuisance to the police repeatedly, she said, but the problems continue.

“Sometimes we can be phoning the police six or seven times a day.

“They get moved on, but then they come back. If they are barred then they just get somebody else to come in for them.

“We’re losing the battle. It’s really, really bad.

“One member of staff was threatened and was thinking of giving up his work over it.”

Another member of staff at the store said she has caught people raking the bins and trying to sell the shop’s out-of-date products.

She said, “I have seen them trying to sell rotten meat to people outside the shop.

“People are petrified to come in. Even when they pull up outside the store they have junkies tapping on their windows asking for money.”

A spokeswoman for Tayside Police said, “We are aware of on-going anti-social behaviour in the Ballindean Road area. In addition to increasing our patrols, we have also been deploying the mobile CCTV van in a bid to catch those responsible.

“Anyone who witnesses anti-social behaviour or anyone who has any concerns should get in touch with us on 0845 600 5705.”

n Last week the Tele reported that worried residents of Baluniefield Road and Baluniefield Avenue in Douglas have been confronted by drug users in the street.

Callers to the paper said addicts hassle bystanders for money, and even congregate to deal and inject drugs in the open air.

Local councillor Christina Roberts said she had also heard stories of open drug use in nearby Aboyne Avenue in Craigie.