A Midland shopkeeper wearing flip flops confronted three suspected thieves in a fracas over a £1.99 greetings card. Wayne Jarvis, 42, was astonished when he noticed a woman allegedly leaving his shop without paying for the card on May 8.
The shopkeeper, who launched Fifty Scents in Worcester last year, said he had seen hundreds of pounds-worth of stock swiped by thieves this year alone. CCTV footage from the bath and body retailer showed the businessman detaining a woman before becoming embroiled in a scuffle with her two accomplices. Wayne could be seen grabbing one of the men and fending off the other before the trio ran away.
Shopkeeper's Account
Wayne said: "I told her the police were coming and that's when she tried to get away. That's when I got hold of her jumper and brought her back into the store and she continued to struggle. Then her boyfriend and another friend got involved. They were saying I can't touch her and I've got to let her go, 'she ain't done nothing wrong'. She left without any of her stuff before the police got here."
Wayne has been fighting back against shoplifters by sharing video evidence of their offences on social media as a cautionary message to fellow retailers.
Targeted Items
Strangely, the most targeted items by thieves were Wayne's novelty ducks, which he typically retails at £7.99 apiece. Other products preferred by criminals included the shop's bath bombs and candles.
Wayne said: "We are a small independent business, we keep having issues with shoplifters stealing stuff. I stop them, at the door and in-store. I stopped a lady last week for a £2 bath bomb. When the police came we found she'd stolen £90-worth of stuff. This is the fourth theft we've had this month. They'll keep doing it, keep hitting us.
"We've only been open since last April and we've had around £600 stolen since January. It's because there are no consequences, they know we can get away with it. There's not a deterrent, they know if it's under a certain value the law is so lax. They know whatever they do, they can walk away. The rubber ducks are the most stolen item, it's silly. You wouldn't think people would want to get caught for a rubber duck."
Police Response
Wayne reported the incident to the authorities and submitted CCTV footage in an attempt to identify the thieves. A West Mercia Police spokesperson said: "Enquiries are on-going into an attempted theft from Fifty Scents on Broad Street in Worcester following a report received on Friday, May 8."
