Owners of a cherished family hardware store were left stunned after discovering that two female shoplifters had brazenly stolen merchandise while singing the festive classic 'Santa Baby'. The incident, captured on CCTV, occurred at Badham's Hardware shop in Upton upon Severn, Worcestershire.
Festive Theft Caught on Camera
Catherine Badham, 48, and her husband Patrick only became aware that something was amiss when stock began mysteriously vanishing from their shelves last Thursday, the 18th of December. Upon reviewing their security footage, they were confronted with the audacious scene.
The CCTV footage showed the duo casually selecting items, filling their bags with goods including tiny enamel model paints, professional artist brushes, and even a toy Gruffalo. Throughout the act, the women were heard crooning the lyrics to 'Santa Baby'. At one point, one of the suspects is seen looking directly at the camera before continuing her festive performance.
'It Was Horrible to Watch'
Catherine described the moment she saw the footage. "They were singing Santa Baby while stealing my stock, so casually, it was horrible to watch," she said. "What really annoyed me is that they looked directly at the camera, they were brazen."
The mother-of-five expressed her deep disappointment, particularly given the timing so close to Christmas. She estimated the value of the stolen goods to be between £70 and £100. The couple, who have run the community-focused shop for years, were especially disheartened as the suspects appeared to be ordinary shoppers.
"We take people on face value. It's really disappointing," Catherine added. "It just makes you feel terrible as we work really hard for our community."
Suspicions Confirmed
Patrick Badham, who was present in the shop during the theft, recounted growing suspicious of the pair's behaviour. "I just felt something was off so when I'd finished serving I checked the area they were in and noticed quite a lot missing," he stated. "When I looked at the CCTV it confirmed my suspicions. They were singing Santa Baby as they merrily chose what they wanted."
Catherine suspects the stolen items, particularly the paints, may be sold on at a nearby travellers' camp where the pair are reportedly flogging wreaths and lucky horseshoes.
The couple have reported the theft to West Mercia Police. A police spokesperson confirmed: "We have spoken to Upton Safer Neighbourhood Team, who have confirmed they have received an online report in connection with this, and it will be investigated."
