Dougie Mac charity shop gets security guard after staff threatened

A member of staff at the Dougie Mac shop was threatened with a weapon

A charity shop says it was forced to employ a security guard after a staff member was threatened with a weapon.

The Dougie Mac Hospice shop in Stoke-on-Trent, closed for two days after the staff member was confronted.

Chief executive David Webster, said he wanted to keep staff and customers safe after a rise in anti-social behaviour over recent months.

"The idea of a security guard in a Dougie Mac shop frankly fills me with dread and sadness," he explained.

Mr Webster said he had made the decision with a heavy heart, following the incident last month, but was now considering employing security guards at other hospice shops in the area.

"It is a totally alien scenario and not one that I ever want to repeat," Mr Webster added.

Dougie Mac Hospice provides care for adults and children with a life-limiting illness and has more than 20 shops in Staffordshire.

Mr Webster said he was relieved staff at the Stoke shop had not experienced any further incidents since the doors were re-opened.

Staffordshire Police confirmed that a man was escorted out of the shop after the incident on 21 October, but no weapons were found when he was searched.

The offender was served with a community protection notice, the force added.