ON FIVE occasions in the past year, Rediscovery CDs owner Paul Howlett has been subject to threats and abuse from a man who repeatedly attempts to steal from his store.
But every time he - or in one case a customer - called police for help, the response has been the same.
They are too busy to send anyone.
"Once when he came in and was abusing me at the counter, one of my customers called the police to come and the police said, `sorry, we haven't got anyone to go there','' he said.
The Sturt St business owner said he is not alone.
Many of the shop owners around him have told of receiving the same response when reporting similar incidents to police.
"After one of the first times he came in we called the police and they said we had to type out a trespass notice and give it to him,'' he said.
"They said if he comes back again after you have given him that he's breaking the law, so call us and we will come straight around.
"He came back in about two weeks ago after we gave it to him, so my girlfriend phoned to tell them.
"They are still yet to come."
Mr Howlett said he did not blame Ballarat police for their lack of response.
On Tuesday, a group estimated at 50 members marched to the office of Ballarat East MLA Geoff Howard in a bid to have more numbers posted in the city.
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