HAD beautician Mimi Wong known that some nearby shops had been victims of recent break-ins, she might not have left cash lying around her beauty salon.

Last Sunday, at 9.30am, she returned to her salon, Amanda Asthetique, at Block 253 in Jurong East Street 24 to find it in a mess.

Drawers were ransacked and about $430 in cash and a $150 bangle were missing.

'I was surprised to find out from some residents later that I was not the only one,' said Ms Wong, 46.

Six shops - four of which, including hers, were in the same block - have been hit since early February.

They were broken into about a week apart, starting with a bicycle shop, Bikers Hub, on Feb 5.

A bicycle on display worth about $300 was stolen, said shop owner Loo Thian Yew, 50.

Household shop owner Loo Chor Joo, 62, was shocked when he returned after a five-day Chinese New Year break on Feb 11 to find $500 in coins and $4,000 in parking coupons missing.