Store staff left shaken as gang threaten to kill shop customer
‘ANOTHER UNACCEPTABLE EVENT’
SUPERMARKET bosses say staff have been left shaken and upset after a group of youths entered one of their stores and threatened to kill another customer.
A Central England Co-op spokesman said the incident happened at its Thurnby Lodge Food Store, in Thurncourt Road, Leicester, at about 7pm on Sunday.
“The team were left shaken after a group of youths entered the store, threatened to take the life of a customer before a fight broke out,” said a Co-op spokesman.
“Thankfully, no store colleagues were injured during the incident and the police quickly arrived to control the situation.”
Central England Co-op has reaffirmed its campaign calling for better protection for colleagues dealing with violence.
Craig Goldie, loss prevention manager, said: “Everyone at Central England Co-op was shocked and appalled by yet another unacceptable incident in Leicester this weekend.
“This unprovoked incident left colleagues shaken but thankfully not injured.
“We strongly condemn any form of abuse or violence towards our colleagues who are just doing their job and are working closely with the police in order to find those responsible.
“This type of incident reinforces our ongoing campaign calling for better protection for shopworkers and highlights our zero-tolerance policy on all types of crime aimed at our colleagues and customers.
“Once again, we are sending a clear message out to anyone who might consider targeting our colleagues and stores – it is not worth the risk and no crime will be tolerated.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers were called to a shop in Thurncourt Road, Leicester, on Sunday evening following a disturbance involving a customer and a group of youths outside the premises.
“A man was arrested on suspicion of breach of the peace but subsequently de-arrested after inquiries determined the incident wasn’t as reported.”
This incident comes days after the retailer issued a “not worth the risk” warning to criminals as part of an ongoing campaign to keep colleagues and customers safe as the nights draw in and Covid-19 restrictions continue.
The company is set to introduced increased measures in coming months in a bid to protect its staff, including expanding a service it uses that allows them to call for assistance at the touch of the button.
Tracking devices are to be put in more products to deter would-be thieves.
These will sit alongside a recently launched trial of bodyworn cameras which, if successful, could be rolled out across all stores.
The campaign comes on the back of new figures which have revealed that, in Central England Co-op stores this year, verbal abuse has risen by 205 per cent, threats and intimidation by 122 per cent and assaults by 47 per cent.
The retailer said it has recorded a total of 232 crimes related directly to Covid-19.