A COUPLE have had to refit their entire store to stop shoplifters – they say thieves are more brazen than ever.
Tim Attril and his wife Nicole have told of how tough the last year has been for them as business owners.
Instagram/Harbour GiftsNicole Attril and her husband Tim own a gift shop in the seaside town of West Bay, Bridport in Dorset[/caption]
Instagram/Harbour GiftsAfter being targeted by thieves, Tim and Nicole have been forced to move around the entirety of Harbour Gift in a bid to prevent thugs from stealing[/caption]
Facebook/Harbour GiftsThey have also forked out on more CCTV[/caption]
What should be a wholesome job running a gift shop in the seaside town of West Bay, Bridport, Dorset, is actually a nightmare for the pair who say they have things stolen multiple times a week.
After a “gut-wrenching” summer this year, Tim and Nicole have now been forced to move around the entirety of Harbour Gift in a bid to prevent thugs targeting them.
Changes include moving stock from shelves onto tables so everything is at eye level and not in blind spots.
They have also forked out on more CCTV so they can see “everything going on”.
Tim told Bridport News: “This summer has been rampant, shoplifting is always a problem but this year has been noticeably worse.
“In the height of summer, we were getting items stolen about two or three times a week.
“It is heartbreaking. We work so hard to make the shop nice for the bay and for the community.
“We know it happens every year and it is an ongoing battle but this year has been so much worse.”
It comes after high street giant WHSmith were forced to security tag £1.50 handwash and even go to the extremes of protecting 80p Peppa Pig stickers.
Experts believe the spate of attacks in popular stores comes as more shops ditch customer-staff interaction and add self-serve tills – as brazen shoplifters take advantage.
The British Retail Consortium reported around eight million thefts from March 2022 to March this year.
Retail experts have since called on the Government and police to do more.
Jane Moore recently wrote in The Sun that cops are giving the green light to criminals to shoplift.
The journalist and presenter said it’s “depressing” that forces won’t get involved in shop theft unless more than two hundred pounds worth of goods are taken or there is decent CCTV of the crime taking place.
And shoplifters aren’t the only epidemic high street stores and supermarkets are having to deal with.
And Tesco workers were last month offered body cameras after a rise in violent attacks.
The supermarket chain revealed around 200 of their staff members are assaulted each month by customers.
Facebook/Harbour GiftsChanges in the shop have included moving stock from shelves onto tables so everything is at eye level and not in blind spots[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
