Thursday, October 23, 2003

This morning staff at the Market Street Co-op supermarket were left to deal unaided with an aggressive and violent shoplifter caught stealing a bottle of whisky. No security staff are employed before 12 in the afternoon and when the Police were called at 9.15 they informed the staff that they "did not have the resources" to send a police officer straight away. The staff, who felt very threatened by the young man's hostility, were advised by the Police to " let him go." They finally arrived at 11.15 to take a report of the incident. Staff at the supermarket said that they believe that word has got around that no security staff are available in the morning which has led to an increase in early morning shoplifting.

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