Boutique targeted by thieves twice in two days

Thousands of pounds worth of stock has been taken from a Nottingham fashion shop

A shopkeeper says his fashion boutique has been targeted by thieves twice in as many days.

Metro Fashion, in Middle Pavement, Nottingham, was shut to shoppers on Thursday after thefts saw stock totalling about £4,500 taken.

Owner Liam Stanhope said despite trying to make an honest living, those targeting shops like his “just don’t care”.

He said he feels the area around Bridlesmith Gate is not safe to do business in.

Overnight from Monday into Tuesday, a window to the store was broken to steal stock, Mr Stanhope said, was worth about £3,500.

And on Wednesday, a £1,000 jacket was taken by a shoplifter.

The owner of Metro Fashion said he felt the area was "no longer safe to do business"

Mr Stanhope, 30, opened the store in July.

He said: “It’s a big loss for us as a family-run business that could be the difference between closing or staying open.

“We’ve shut our doors. Right now our staff are worried what’s going to happen next - are we going to keep getting targeted? Are they going to have a job?

“It just makes me question if it’s all worth it. It was my dream to have a shop in Nottingham. For people to take advantage, it does hurt.”

Lana Stanhope, 26, was in the shop when the shoplifting took place.

She said: “I'm grateful that there was no violence involved, but there's nothing to say that there's not going to be any in the future.

“I just can't understand how it goes through somebody's mind to take from somewhere that's only been open for two months, we’ve only just got our sign.

“We're a really small company, they’ve decided we’re easy targets.”

Mr Stanhope said a number of thefts had taken place in the area in recent weeks

Mr Stanhope said following the first break-in, Nottinghamshire Police said there would be an increased presence in the area.

But he felt this had not happened.

He said: “There’s no reassurance there. I know of five shops that have all been robbed in recent weeks.

“It's not a safe place to do business at all.”

A Nottinghamshire Police spokesperson said: "Targeting those involved in acquisitive crime, like burglary and shoplifting, is a priority for the force as part of our retail crime action plan.

“Retail crime is not a victimless crime and is damaging to local businesses.

"This is an ongoing issue, and we are working every day with local businesses and partner organisations to identify offenders and put them before the courts.”

Crime figures for March to August show Bridlesmith Gate, Low Pavement, Middle Pavement and St Peter’s Gate saw 16 incidents of shoplifting recorded, alongside one burglary, one robbery, one theft from person and three crimes classified as other theft.

Rich Lane, head of operations and business crime for Nottingham Business Improvement District, said: "We know the impacts that crime can have on retailers and appreciate how distressing this incident will have been.

"We will continue to work closely with traders in the city, and our valued partners in Nottinghamshire Police, to reduce business crime."