Nobody wants to be attacked over a can of alcohol
Owner says shoplifting epidemic is forcing staff to quit jobs
Assault took a toll on my mental health
UMAR MAJID ON BEING ATTACKED IN HIS SHOP
A SHOPKEEPER who was attacked confronting a shoplifter has told of his battle against a huge surge in crime.
Umar Majid, who runs convenience store and cafe Baba’s Kitchen in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, was smashed in the face with a can and battered by a thief almost three years ago.
The 27-year-old is still waiting for justice and said thieves now target his store almost daily – while around half of his staff have been subjected to physical abuse.
He spoke after a trade body for retailers revealed shoplifting is at an all-time high and violence and abuse against shop workers has risen by 50 per cent in a year.
Umar, who has just taken over the family-run shop of 40 years from his father, said: “Theft is something I really have an issue with. It’s coming up for three years since I confronted someone who was stealing alcohol and they assaulted me.
“He threw a can of Red Bull in my face and started throwing punches into me. I managed to tackle him to the ground.
“It took a toll on my mental health and it had an impact on the staff who saw it.
“We have 19 members of staff. I’m sure at least eight or nine have experienced physical abuse of a sort.
“It gets to the point where, because it’s happening so often, there’s only so much you can do for your staff. They have to make an assessment whether it’s worthwhile putting their life at risk.”
Br i t i sh Retai l Consortium figures this week revealed violence and abuse against shop workers rose to 1300 incidents a day last year in the UK while shoplifting is now costing retailers £3.3billion a year.
They say action on the crisis is “woefully inadequate”. Greenock shop boss Jennifer Paton called on the First Minister for more support for policing in yesterday’s Record, saying she fears a worker will be killed in the surge of retail violence.
And Scottish store chiefs called for the crisis be a top priority in the next policing plan.
U mar, whose alleged attacker is still to face court, said he has invested in expensive artificial intelligence technology, which alerts staff to suspicious movements in store and displays a “rogue’s gallery” of those who aren’t caught in time.
But he still has theft incidents about five times a week – costing his business several thousand pounds a year – while abuse comes as often as twice a week.
Umar said: “With the stealing, it’s everybody – from workmen in their high vis to addicts to older women who are maybe just trying to get by.
“Overall it tends to be people who are currently struggling in the cost of living crisis.
“The thieves know they can get away with it. Police are struggling to get out to every call and it’s just a slap on the wrist – if they get that.”
The businessman has also seen a decline in the number of people prepared to work in the sector.
He said: “People don’t want to deal with the potential of getting assaulted verbally or physically for the sake of a can of alcohol or some food.”
The Scottish Government says 543 of fenders have been convicted after the introduction of legislation protecting shop workers in 2021.
Police Scotland says it works closely with partners to deter, prevent and investigate shoplifting and officers are working proactively to combat it.