VALENTINE’S Day lovers are being asked to question the devotion of their partners after a spate of thefts from a garden centre.

Around 20 upmarket scented candles have been stolen from Mayberry Garden Centre, in Portslade, over the last few days.

The gifts, worth £20 each, were taken from the Old Shoreham Road garden centre in the run up to Valentine’s Day - today. The first theft was on February 2 followed by another on February 3 and most recently on Monday evening.

John Dunkling, who is head of security at the family-run Tates of Sussex Garden Centres, said the suspects had used different methods to steal the candles.

He said: “One person appears to put the candles in a pram with a baby in it. They are worth a lot of money and it potentially puts business and jobs at risk so it is important we do something about it.

“I think if you end up receiving one of these candles on Valentine’s Day you should question how much he or she really loves you if he is buying knocked off products.”

Darren Clift, manager of the Portslade centre, said the CCTV system had enabled them to pass on information quickly to police.

He added: “The candles are called Yankee Candles and they are very popular and demand a high price.”

Sussex Police confirmed they are investigating a number of incidents.

A spokeswoman said: “On February 2 a man and a woman were seen to pick up seven Yankee Candles worth a total of almost £140 then put them under the red child's buggy that the man was pushing before they left without paying.”

She added that on February 3 at 2.20pm a security guard saw two people take two Yankee candles.

One of the suspects is described as a white man, 19 to 20 years old, 5ft 10in and was wearing a black padded jacket, blue jeans and white trainers.

She added: “On February 9 at around 5.55pm two people were seen leaving the shop with nine Yankee candles. One of the people is described as a black man, around 6ft, in his 40s and was wearing dark coloured clothes.”

A 17-year-old girl from Hove has been arrested on suspicion of theft in relation to the incident on February 3. She has been bailed until February 28 while investigations continue.

Anyone with information should contact 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting serial 749 of February 3.