Face masks a hindrance identifying shoplifters

Covid-19 face masks are making it more difficult for Angus police to identify shoplifters and are contributing to a near 20% drop in local detection rates.

Despite a dip in offences of nearly a third in the lockdown months from April to June, Police Scotland area commander Chief Inspector Wayne Morrison said masks offered an extra layer of protection to crooks.

Mr Morrison said: “There has been a 29% reduction in recorded thefts by shoplifting.

“Increased security and amended policy at some large supermarkets has reduced the opportunity for theft.

“However, baseball caps and masks are being used which makes identifying the perpetrator a bit difficult.”

He said shop managers were not reporting incidents immediately and it made tracing criminals via CCTV harder.

“The wearing of face masks has definitely curtailed our detection opportunities,” he said.

In a quarterly performance summary to Angus scrutiny and audit councillors, the top officer revealed there had also been a rise in drink-drivers reported by fellow citizens for being over the limit behind the wheel.

Councillors were told less traffic on Angus roads had seen speeding offences plummet by 72%, but the area commander admitted he was surprised by a 28% increase in the number of drink or drug drivers compared to the same period last year.

He said significant resources had been available during the lockdown to target drink and drug drivers.

“Focus was not only targeting offenders driving immediately after consuming alcohol or drugs, but also focusing on offenders driving the morning after being under the influence,” added Mr Morrison.

He said there were also more public tip-offs about neighbours who may have been “drinking in their garden and hopped in their car down to the supermarket to get more alcohol”.

“Irrespective of police campaigns and reinforcement through varying mediums, evidence suggests the message does not appear to be hitting home and road users are continuing to drive while under the influence which is completely unacceptable,” he said.