Nuneaton: Theft-hit store to keep ban on people entering shop

Mitchell Ward said it "feels unnatural" after installing a serving hatch and getting customers' items

A shop that has suffered a spate of shoplifting says a ban on customers going inside will continue for "as long as it takes".

DIY store Nuneaton Toolbox built a shopfront serving hatch, meaning staff get people's items.

The business has complained that police have not been bothered to respond to reports of crime.

Warwickshire Police said it had been taking "decisive action" against shoplifters for six months.

It denied suggestions it had not supported the store.

Mitchell Ward, who has worked at the shop for a decade, had told Coventry Live that at one point it was "having between 10 to 15 shoplifters a day".

Speaking to the BBC about the serving hatch, Mr Ward said: "So that's going to stay as long as it takes for the police to patrol the town properly. So they have started? Yes. But is that temporary?"

Mitchell Ward, from Nuneaton Toolbox, appealed to police to be more proactive

Mr Ward said crime over the last six months had been "a little bit better perhaps, because the police have shown a presence".

But he added: "Previous to that there was no police. That's up until a good five years... it took... many, many hours to come out."

In an open letter the force published, Insp Kris Shore said: "Over the past six months, we have been taking decisive action across the county against shoplifters, leading to twice as many thieves ending up in court and doubling our positive actions as a result of investigations."

Insp Shore added officers were also aware of issues with anti-social behaviour in Nuneaton town centre and had been actively identifying and targeting suspects.

He said the force had seen comments made by the store that officers had not supported it when it had been the target of robbery and shoplifting.

"This is not the position of Warwickshire Police," Insp Shore said.