'I lie awake at night worrying about shoplifters'

Shopkeepers say "prolific" gangs are increasingly to blame for theft in their stores, despite a promise from police to tackle the issue.

Susan Connolly, co-owner of Spar in Pewsey and Tidworth, Wiltshire, said she lies awake at night wondering if her shop will be "targeted next" after the Pewsey store was broken into in January 2024.

Organised groups will "ransack" stores at night and take goods they can sell such as cigarettes, alcohol and vapes, she added.

Phillip Wilkinson, Wiltshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, said tackling shoplifting is "a key focus" in his Police and Crime Plan.

Project Pegasus, launched in October last year, was aimed at disrupting criminal networks and getting a better understanding of their tactics.

However, trade bodies representing high street stores say gangs are becoming more calculated.

Sarah Bird, from the National Business Crime Solution, said they have seen one particular crime group, dubbed 'the champagne gang', striking across the country.

"They work as a team in stores. Certain members will act as a lookout, and they will use Bluetooth headsets to communicate with each other.

"They'll set the alarms off to try and distract from the actual theft," she added.

Ms Bird says these particular individuals are from Eastern Europe, and based on "vehicle movements", are believed to be selling the stolen goods in Romania.

Ms Connolly has taken matters into her own hands by installing smoke screens, alarm systems, facial recognition cameras and cigarette vending machines.

"They're prolific in the area at the moment, so you almost anticipate that it will be our time next," she said.

"That's a really sad fact, that we're not shocked by it anymore.

"We're in a cost-of-living crisis and everybody is feeling the pinch. The majority of people are finding a way to cope, you don't have to resort to crime in order to survive."

In addition to the financial losses, Ms Connolly said her staff are left feeling "uneasy and unsafe" at work.

Mr Wilkinson said: "People who work in retail should feel they can go into work without the fear of being assaulted or abused.

“I’m aware of situations in Wiltshire where this has happened, and I want anyone who works in the retail industry to know that my team is working with Wiltshire Police and our partners to make your working environment safer, and to make you feel safer."

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