Shoplifters targeted as business forced to shut

Sam Kerr, runs the Southampton branch of the fancy dress store

"Shoplifting has played a big part," says the manager of a fancy dress shop which is having to close its doors after more than 50 years of trading.

Sam Kerr, runs the Hollywood Just for Fun store in Southampton and says: "Because nothing gets done they feel they have the right to take your stock."

The branch will shut on 15 November but the business will remain in operation in Bournemouth.

It comes as the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), Donna Jones, announces prolific shoplifters in Southampton will receive targeted support through a new rehabilitation project.

Hollywood Just for Fun will shut on 15 November after more than 50 years

Ms Kerr said the rising costs in running a business and anti-social behaviour like shoplifting are the main reasons for the closure.

"People think it's OK to take from businesses but in the long run it's the businesses that suffer," she says.

She adds that it "affects the community because the businesses have to say 'enough is enough'".

The store first opened as a fancy dress shop in 1974 and Ms Kerr took it over in 2012.

An emotional Ms Kerr says "it's been a godsend" for the community, helping with everything from children needing to dress-up for school to general fancy dress parties.

She said crime in the area has taken its toll on the business as it intimidates customers and stops them from coming to the shop.

She says the shoplifting is being done by people of all ages, "nothing gets done" and the shoplifters know this, and that on one occasion someone attempted to snatch her till but failed.

"You do your best to deter it but you can't do anything as a person to stop it," she says.

She adds that she felt like she could not stand-up to them over fear that she would end up getting in trouble.

She welcomes the move from Jones but hopes it will cover the "whole city" rather than just the shops directly in the city centre.

"It will be good to see something happen for once," she says.

"It'll be nice to feel safer in where we live and work."

Shoplifters will be targeted in a new rehabilitation scheme in Southampton

The shoplifting rehabilitation programme was introduced by the PCC in Portsmouth in 2022 in a joint initiative with charity The Society of St James, Portsmouth City Council, Southern Co-op and Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary.

It sees Business Crime Navigators (BCNs) work with police, probation, prison service, and councils to identify prolific shoplifters and offenders involved in assaults, antisocial behaviour, and criminal damage.

It then provides personalised, trauma-informed care to address root causes such as addiction, homelessness, and trauma.

The Portsmouth trial found 60% of service users reported a significant reduction in shoplifting and drug misuse.

The Southampton rollout is a £30,000 one year pilot being delivered in partnership with The Society of St James, Go! Southampton (Business Improvement District), and Southampton City Council.