Peterborough store owners reveal shoplifting toll

Will Cleaver and Philippa Millard run the Salvation Army superstore and say charity shops are a key target for thieves

Shopkeepers in Peterborough say thefts have become an almost daily issue, with statistics from police backing up the claim that there has been a rise in shoplifting recently. What are the experiences of the city's shopkeepers and how are they addressing the problem?

The shop provides funds for many city organisations from dementia cafes to rough sleeper support

A freedom of information request to Cambridgeshire Police revealed there were 584 incidents in the city centre in 2022, compared to 344 cases between January and June this year alone.

Philippa Millard is manager of the two-storey Salvation Army superstore on Long Causeway and says shoplifting has become a big issue.

"They're stealing because they can and they're stealing to sell on, so yes we are soft targets for them," she says.

The shop sells clothing, furniture and household items and raises funds for causes including foodbanks, dementia care and rough sleeper charities in the city.

"Charity shops are key targets for shoplifters because security is maybe not as at is with Primark or Marks & Spencer," Ms Millard said.

"It could be clothing, a pair of shoes, a mug, they take whatever it is they think they can take, yet... if they are in need we would give it to them and they know that."

Assistant manager Will Cleaver said staff and volunteers had access to security radios and they used code words to alert each other if they saw a shoplifter.

"We will just approach them to make them aware what they are stealing is from the funds we're trying to raise for Peterborough," he said.

"Some are embarrassed into returning items, but if they're hardened criminals - well I won't repeat the language - but we have to survive and we will survive."

Statistics from Cambridgeshire Police, released through a freedom of information request reveal:

• In 2021, there were 375 shoplifting incidents recorded in the centre of Peterborough

• In 2022, there were 548 incidents

• From January to June 2023, there were 344 cases

Meanwhile, the latest information from the Office for National Statistics shows there were 1,895 shoplifting offences in the Peterborough Community Safety Partnership area, in the year ending June 2023.

This compares to 1,278 in the year to June 2022.

John Bird says he will sometimes chase thieves down the street to retrieve his stock

John Bird, who runs a shop on Rivergate, said: "I've had to keep adding CCTV - I opened the shop three and a half years ago with five and I've added another four cameras since then, because theft has become a prevalent part of the business."

The extra cameras for his shop, which sells greeting cards and offers computer parts and repairs, cost him about £500.

"Shoplifting is almost daily, only small amounts, which means it's insignificant as far as insurance values and to get the police involved, but when you're a small business it does hit your bottom line," he said.

"And it means I'm spending most of my time in front of my tablet or phone watching CCTV - when I have to go up to the toilet I'm watching my phone."

He has also taken to chasing thieves to get his stock back.

"I had someone blatantly, in front of a camera, go past and take four rolls of wrapping paper out of a box," he said.

"I grab the wrapping paper from him four blocks down the street and he looks at me and starts swearing."

Running a shop with thousands of items, he suspects more goes missing than he realises but he believes he loses "close to £100 to £150 a week".

Harry Singh says he is averaging between £100 to £150 worth of thefts every week

Harry Singh says he has seen an increase in shoplifting at his women's fashion shop, also on Rivergate, "since Covid".

"I have items stolen almost every day," he said.

"When you see an empty hanger you fell really, really bad - but sometimes they snatch it from you."

He described an incident when a woman tried on "nearly £300-worth of stuff and when she got the chance, she ran".

Mr Singh said he was averaging about £100 to £150 a week in stolen items, which he cannot sustain.

His shop is ringed with CCTV cameras and he tries to ban offenders, but sees no point in claiming on insurance or informing the police.

But he admits the thefts are taking a toll, saying: "You're earning very hard pennies and if it happens before lunch, you don't feel like eating.

"You feel like someone has made you stupid in front of your own eyes."

Harry Singh says the thefts make him feel "really, really bad"

Det Ch Insp Chris O'Brien said Cambridgeshire Police was working with the business community to target suspects and urged victims to report incidents.

"We are committed to tackling crime and associated anti-social behaviour in the city and are conscious of the increase in reports of retail theft," he said.

"For repeat offenders we are applying for criminal behaviour orders, preventing them from entering areas where they have previously committed crime.

"The significant increase in the number of positive outcomes for retail crime this month is testament to this ongoing good work."