Postcode lottery for shops scared of theft

Fifty cases of shoplifting in the Dudley borough were reported to police in May, and that is compared to 24 in the Walsall borough.

In Sandwell there were 39 and in Wolverhampton 33. Meanwhile, in Solihull, there were just 18 offences. The figures, from a Freedom of Information Act request to West Midlands Police force, by the Lib Dems do not surprise traders in Dudley.

Mohammed Sagir, chairman of the Voice of Dudley Businesses, said about the new figures released: “It is a subject which is raised increasingly by members. There are CCTV cameras all around Dudley, but too often we report crimes, get a reference number and then do not hear anything more,” Mr Sagir added.

“We want confidence that these people doing it are getting caught.”

Mr Sagir’s shop, which he wishes not to name, was targeted last month. A £500 Samsung S7 was taken during the incident. He said of how the offence was committed: “They came in and they snatched the phone before getting in a get-away car.

“I passed the CCTV on to the police, but haven’t heard anything since.

“That was in January.”

West Midlands Police did charge 561 in connection with shoplifting offences over the same month.

Sixty six others received a caution during the same period.

For those reported crimes where the value was reported to the police, 24 incidents were for £1 items. The highest value item stolen in a raid was £1,400.

Chief Superintendent Keith Fraser, force lead for business crime, said: “Some people think of shoplifting as being a ‘victimless’ crime but the impact it has on everyone should not be underestimated. In addition to the actual cost, these offences can have a detrimental and long-lasting impact on staff who work in shops and stores, the economy and also communities.

“We are involved in a number of initiatives to target shoplifters in the West Midlands, including retail radio schemes which link officers with shopkeepers, shop security marking goods with invisible ink to help trace stolen goods and a robust offender management programme. We also put those found guilty through the courts.

“We continue to work with the local business community and the Police and Crime Commissioner as part of a business crime partnership. This follows a force-wide consultation which has recently taken place to get views and opinions from the local business community.

“The partnership gives us a strong voice. We take this crime seriously and will work with businesses and others to prevent and detect offences.”

Earlier this year, a prolific thief, Gavin Garratt, who is 29, was jailed for 18 months after going on a shoplifting spree in Dudley town centre. He struck nine times in two months – all in stores from which he had been outlawed – taking food, cosmetics and even pens to feed his drug habit.

It started on January 5 and continued until his arrest on March 1 – a period of almost two months.

CCTV was used to prosecute the criminal by the authorities.