Weymouth charity shops 'disheartened' by shoplifters

Managers of three shops have called for action to tackle shoplifting in the town.

It comes amid a huge rise in shoplifting generally in Dorset - latest figures reveal offences are up 28 per cent (March 2023- March 24) with the crime now said to be at a new 20 year high in England and Wales.

Last year Dorset Police said the majority of shoplifting crimes go unresolved - however they have been implementing initiatives to tackle the issue.

Three separate stores in St Mary Street in Weymouth town centre have said that their premises are repeatedly targeted by shoplifters.

Klaire Ball, store manager of Cancer Research UK charity shop (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Klaire Ball, store manager at Cancer Research UK on St Mary Street, said: "It is really bad and it is very frequent.

"We are raising money for cancer research.

"Last week somebody stole a pink suitcase that was brand new, because we have brought in goods as well.

"People will just pull things off the hangers.

"They know you are busy and they work in groups, some will distract the cashier, while another takes something.

"Last Christmas was very bad, we had electric blankets worth £40, people would just pick them up and take them out.

"We stay in touch with the BID Rangers but we need more security in the town."

Tom Averheart, assistant manager of Dorset Blind Association, said: "It is disheartening.

Tom Averheart, assistant manager of Dorset Blind Association charity shop (Image: Tom Lawrence)

"We are basically giving a lot of this stuff away, some T-shirts cost about £1.50.

"It is a huge problem in charity shops.

"We are trying to raise money for a charity.

"To steal from a shop is one thing but to steal from a charity is another.

"We get it nearly every day, there is usually only one or two of us working so it is hard to police.

"People just grab things and go.

"I think a lot of the time it is young people just doing it for fun not because they can't afford it."

Amber Wright and Jordan Musson are assistant managers at the British Red Cross on St Mary Street.

British Red Cross in Weymouth (Image: Tom Lawrence)

Amber said: "We think it happens daily, but we do not always see it.

"We have a lot of volunteers who give up their time to make the shop look nice and then people just take things."

Jordan added: "We work hard to put stuff out and make as much money as possible.

"It is soul destroying and it does make you angry.

"The BID Rangers are amazing but shoplifters need to get tougher sentences."

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "We fully understand the impact that shoplifting can have on our local businesses in Weymouth town centre and we are fully committed to working with the retail sector, including charity shops, to tackle this issue.

"While we have had a number of successful convictions of shoplifters in the county, we are not complacent and we will continue to use all powers available to us in order to deter those who persistently cause issues to shopkeepers. The Weymouth Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) regularly liaises with the Weymouth Business Improvement District (BID), ShopWatch and other partners to target repeat offenders.

"We share information and advise businesses, with crime prevention experts talking to retailers about how they can take preventive measures to minimise the risk of shoplifting and increase the chances of offenders being caught.

"We have a Dorset Safer Business Partnership, chaired by the Police and Crime Commissioner, that involves business leaders across Dorset.

"Our work also involves regular communication with local businesses and local authorities around our response to tackling shoplifting, as well as anti-social behaviour and other crimes and incidents, to ensure Dorset remains a safe place to live, work and visit.

"We would continue to urge local business to report offences to us online at www.dorset.police.uk or by calling 101. If a crime is in progress, always dial 999."