Shop staff ‘powerless’ to stop thieves
MAN WITNESSED TWO THEFTS IN TEN MINUTES
A SHOPPER was shocked to be told that store staff cannot stop shoplifters in Derby after witnessing thieves walk out with goods TWICE in ten minutes.
The shopper, who wants to remain anonymous, could hardly believe his eyes when a thief shook off three staff members after “clearing a shelf” at Wilko in Allenton. Then, just minutes later, he saw two people walk out with goods from the nearby Co-op without paying.
The man said staff told him there was little they could do and that one had recently been threatened with a knife.
He said: “I am totally shocked to have witnessed two separate thefts within 10 minutes by different people so brazen. Where are the police, how can this happen, and the staff are so scared to challenge?”
A DERBY store customer was stunned when he saw brazen shoplifters twice walk out with arms full of stolen goods.
He said the arrogant thieves just shrugged off attempts by staff to stop them.
The shopper was in Allenton when he was shocked by the incidents in Osmaston Road.
The man, who wants to be anonymous, said: “I wanted to share our concerns for staff in the shops in Allenton. Yesterday what we witnessed, five minutes apart, really distressed us!
“We were walking into Wilkos and three female staff members were struggling to stop a blatant shoplifter. He had filled up a large bag and cleared a shelf of women’s perfume toiletries. Not just a few but what looked like the whole shelf.
“He was arguing with the poor staff and he said ‘don’t f ****** touch me!’ And the staff were powerless to stop him.
“I said to the staff ‘why don’t you call the police?’ they said ‘we do but they are not interested! It happens all the time.’
“We were in shock and couldn’t believe a person could openly walk into a shop and take what he wanted and walk out.
“As we went on our way to the next shop we went into the Co-op. As we were stood at the till, two people walked straight out of the door with what looked like two or three display BOXES of cheese! Not just the packets, all of the cheese from the fridge section. Other customers shouted ‘look, they are walking out with all the cheese!’
“The staff said ‘yeah, we can’t do anything to stop them. I challenged somebody last week and they pulled a knife out on me!’
“I am totally shocked to have witnessed two separate thefts within 10 minutes by different people so brazen. Where are the police, how can this happen and the staff are so scared to challenge?
“We have some serious problems around Allenton and it needs addressing.”
“I was told similar happened at Boots chemist and another shop.”
John Bestwick, owner of Bestwicks car parts store in Osmaston Road, said shoplifting was a problem on the street.
“We do get the occasional shoplifter, of course we do, but it’s not prolific with us. I think really it’s more targeted towards your Boots and your Wilkinsons and your Co-op more than us.
“The issue is, it’s too small a crime in value for police to combat but unfortunately, that’s why they keep doing it.
“What seems to be going on at the moment, we do seem to be getting a few smashed windows, which cost thousands to replace.
John G & Co, a locksmith in Osmaston Road, was broken into a few weeks ago and a £300 watch was stolen, according to a member of staff.
Ben Stone said: “Overnight at around four in the morning on our
CCTV we caught someone smashing the window with a hammer.
“In the morning when we got here we found a bunch of bags with hammers and clothes in behind our shop so we are guessing that was theirs.”
Derbyshire police told the Derby Telegraph: “Officers from the safer neighbourhood team work with local shopkeepers on a regular basis to understand concerns that they may have.
“The reported issues have not been raised with officers previously, however, officers will be speaking with the shopkeepers to ensure that any concerns are addressed. “The investigation of shoplifting, a crime that clearly has an impact on shop owners, must be balanced against other crimes that pose higher degrees of risk and potential harm. “However, that does not mean that officers will not investigate incidents with lower levels of risk. “For shoplifting there is a wellestablished process that all shops follow and is successful in identifying, and bringing to justice, those responsible.
“Often, those involved with shoplifting offences are well known to officers. Therefore, it is essential that when offences occur that they are reported to the force.”
No one at Wilkinsons or the Co-op was available to comment.
Where are the police, how can this happen and the staff are so scared to challenge?
Shopper