Rising levels of theft have been described as reflecting a national shoplifting epidemic by a family-run Sudbury business, which has created a ‘wall of shame’ to deter repeat offenders.
The BP fuel station and associated Spar convenience store, in Cornard Road, is concerned about the impact of the increase in criminality the business has experienced in recent months.
Incidents include the theft of items from the shop by a group of women who arrived on the fuel forecourt in a silver Mercedes at 2.30pm on March 25 (crime reference 37/16541/24).
There had also been several cases of motorists leaving the family-run business without paying for fuel.
Perpetrators include a male moped rider in a black puffa jacket with Zavetti Canada branding, at 12.30pm on April 22 (reference 37/22088/24), and a woman with glasses and a green parka, driving a red Volkswagen Polo, at 8.35pm on April 30 (reference 37/24028/24).
SuffolkNews reported on the BP station’s appeal in the autumn after a spate of thefts, including a serial offender who used a VW Touran with a false license plate to steal more than £120 of diesel.
Jason Hall, a spokesman for the business, said there had also been various more minor incidents including shoplifting and verbal abuse within the Spar store, that had not formally reported to police.
“We have got CCTV cameras all over the store and there have been numerous people coming in, picking up items, filling their pockets and walking out without paying for them,” he said.
“A lot of the time they are small, low-value items, but it all adds up, so we are doing what we can to tackle it.
“We make an effort to ensure that when anyone is caught it is made clear they are unwelcome and banned from the store.
“We provide images for a wall of shame for our staff to identify perpetrators. We put posters up right outside with pictures of the offenders, to try to deter them from coming back.
“Police do visit our store and have recognised people from our CCTV images and video.
“More serious incidents are reported to the police and crime reference numbers are raised. Sadly, we rarely receive updates or positive news back from the local constabulary.
“We greatly appreciate the dedication and effort made by our staff members to help reduce the financial loss to the business caused by this petty crime.”
It comes after figures released by the Office of National Statistics last month indicated shoplifting offences across England and Wales reached a 20-year high during 2023.
Data showed more than 430,000 shop thefts were recorded nationwide in the 12 months up to the end of December – a rise of more than a third compared with the previous year.
Anyone with information about incidents at the BP and Spar should call police on 101, quoting the crime reference numbers outlined above.
