Coffee shop ‘told to hire security guard’ by police Owner of city centre cafe reveals fears after robbery and threats
ACOFFEE shop in the heart of Birmingham’s business district was told by police to hire a security guard after threats, abuse drunken behaviour and even a robbery.
Staff at Damascena, in Temple Row West, are so worried about the constant threat of trouble they even requested a weapon to defend themselves, says owner Zein Al-Abdeen.
The coffee shop was open until 9pm but Mr Al-Abdeen has now decided to close early each night from January to keep staff safe. Trouble has included: A man recently threatened to ‘break the head’ of one of the team after he was asked to leave;
A man walked into the staff area with a knife and stole £600 from the till;
Regular threats from a violent man who comes in to beg, steal money and use the toilets; Drunk and disorderly behaviour; People helping themselves to tip money and ‘hurling abuse’ at staff.
Mr Al-Abdeen told the Post: “We have been left with no option but to reluctantly close early due to a number of incidents which have put our team in harm’s way.
“We will no doubt lose out financially but for me a safe working environment is paramount.”
He said a man walked into the staff area carrying a knife, stole from the changing rooms, broke into another room and took £600 from the till.
He added: “The police turned up the next day and told me they wanted the CCTV on a USB stick ready to pick up tomorrow. So I had one prepared and over six months later the USB is still on my desk.”
Mr Al-Abdeen said staff regularly received threats from a violent man who comes in to beg, steal money and use the toilets.
Mr Al-Abdeen and his team recently managed to detain the man but he says police failed to turn up to arrest him. He said: “This man shouts obscenities as soon as you confront him. The team are quite afraid of him. Recently, he was causing a massive scene but I was adamant that he would be detained.
“We rang the police and told them we have this man in the shop and he is currently restrained so they should hurry.
“Eventually after a very tiring 18 minutes I had to let him go. The police didn’t turn up.
“We waited three hours after closing time still they didn’t turn up and told us ‘we are busy’”.
Mr Al-Abdeen added: “Only last week four new faces walked in and threatened the staff behind the counter before helping themselves to the tip money and walking off hurling abuse at the staff who asked them to leave,” he said.
It was when members of staff asked for a self-defence weapon that Mr Al-Abdeen decided to close the coffee shop earlier. Mr Al-Abdeen said: “I am blessed with a great team and they have always tried to deal with these incident properly. It is very unfair that this should be part of their job.
“They asked me if they are allowed to have some sort of tool behind the counter for self defence.
“This is what broke the camel’s back and I made my mind up to trial an earlier closing time.
He claimed police suggested he hire a security guard to keep staff safe. “Has it really come to this? A security guard at a coffee shop?” he said. “Return some of the BID levy or business rates and maybe we can afford to employ a security guard.
“Criminals know the police are not turning up to these incidents.
“Why is it you can get a fine within five minutes when parked on a yellow or if your ticket expires? But you can steal and walk with a knife and get away with it?”
Has it really come to this? A security guard at a coffee shop? Owner Zein Al-Abdeen