‘I’ve seen it all’, says manager of Co-op store blighted by shoplifting

Co-op store manager David Brook said it has become “demoralising” after seeing soaring levels of shoplifting in recent years, with at least 20 incidents a week in his shop alone and a quarter of those involving violence or abuse.

The store he manages just outside the centre of Leeds is one of the worst affected by shoplifting among the Co-op’s 2,400-strong chain.

Rather than petty thieving, he said the store and his staff are regularly subjected to “large-scale looting” and violence.

“I’ve pretty much seen it all,” he told the PA news agency.

“There’s a variety of either individuals or organised gangs that work together to feed an addiction.

“They come in with bags or sacks, or even use our own baskets and trolleys, to load up with as many large value items as possible and leave without paying.

“Often they’ll use violence or threaten with weapons as well.”

Armed with knives, hammers and even hypodermic needles, the thieves have often left workers in his shop traumatised.

Mr Brook, 37, said: “People known to have diseases like hepatitis will come in with open wounds and use that as a weapon.

“Those incidents can really rock you. It has a lasting impact.”

Having worked at the store for the past four years, and with the Co-op for 21 years in total, he said he has seen a marked rise in shoplifting in recent years.

Criminals will raid the store for expensive items such as meat, coffee, chocolates and alcohol.

“We’re not talking about a sandwich, but hundreds of pounds at a time, along with threats of violence,” he said.

“It’s not what you go to work for.

“For me personally, I feel a duty of care for our employees. It’s really difficult.

“It’s demoralising for me and my team.”

In one attack, a shoplifter left him with a gash down the side of his head and punched another of the store’s workers after being caught stealing.

As a father of two young children, he said it is difficult to have to explain what has happened when he gets home from work.

“We’ve got to go home to our families at the end of the night and it’s not the nicest thing to explain why you’re shaken up and have cuts and bruises.”

He said the problem has escalated in recent years as thieves believe they can get away with it.

But he said the situation has started to improve over the past 12 to 18 months as the police have been quicker to respond.

The Co-op has also rolled out staff safety measures, such as security guards, body-worn cameras and reinforced kiosks.

Mr Brook is hoping that when a new law comes into effect to make shoplifting a standalone offence in the UK, it will act as a deterrent.

“I’m really hopeful that we can see a change. I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt.

“To know there will be a law there to support us more is great.”