Forum Topic

COOP Grove Park thefts

Second time in two days I have been in the store and thieves have walked in, filled their bags and walked out without a care in the world. The staff just say they are regulars.What is going on.

Sonia Beddington ● 60d14 Comments

That’s good news that the police actually took an interest. Very good news.

Steve Taylor ● 51d

The police were there yesterday evening.A female had apparently stolen two blocks of cheese.

Sonia Beddington ● 51d

I've emailed the CEO asking for security from 3pm until closing. Let's see what happens.

Juliet Hogg ● 53d

The security are told not to confront them if they walk out with stolen goods. Security is there purely to try deter the scaredy cats

Steve Taylor ● 55d

I see this happening practically every time I shop there. There's another one too, she's in her 20s, mixed race, short build, highlights. . Surely it wouldn't cost that much to have security on the door?

Juliet Hogg ● 55d

Liam the looter generally visits the Co-Op in Grove Park between nine and around 9 pm in the weekdays. Sometimes he brings a friend. On one occasion a female accomplice who targets the crisps while they take all the chocolate. They know there's only a skeleton staff on in the evening, and fewer customers. The first time I noticed them, they were quite surreptitious, but these days they don't bother to cover their faces. They just walk in with a large IKEA bag. One of those cylindrical ones with big capacity. News of these easy pickings are clearly spreading. Recently, not for the first time there was a guy with two bikes waiting by the first house in Park Road. His younger a co-looter shuffled up to join him, his head covered in a hoodie, and wearing a Covid mask. His bag was clanking full of red wine bottles fresh from aforementioned Co-Op.. A couple of nights ago a studious middle aged lady had enough HP Sauce to last a lifetime subtly disguised in her bag. I guess the Co-Op don’t care. Or it's so badly run there’s simply no management structure to care… there used to be a security guard but not for some time now. Maybe they deem the loss as acceptable. Either way, not very fair on the poorly paid staff, or local residents.

Simon Meyers ● 58d

These criminals aren’t exactly assaulting and abusing shop workers. They’re simply strolling in, taking whatever they want, and strolling out with impunity. Shop workers have been told not to confront them so there’s no risk of assault or verbal abuse.

Steve Taylor ● 58d

Speaking at the USDAW Conference in April Keir Starmer said “We’ll put 13,000 extra neighbourhood police on the beat, tackling crime on your streets.“We’ll scrap the – the £200 rule that stops the police investigating theft in your workplace.“And we will legislate to make sure assaulting and abusing shopworkers is a standalone criminal offence"So I guess the best advice would be "watch this space".

Sam Hearn ● 58d

At the Chiswick Area Forum we learnt how our local police have been carrying out covert surveillance and detained two muggers who have been intimidating local youngsters and stealing phones and earbuds. One was armed with a knife. Please do not assume that your local police are not doing anything simply because you are not aware of their presence.

Sam Hearn ● 58d

The police are very busy re-arresting the criminals Yvette Cooper released early   

Steve Taylor ● 58d

Reading the daily papers makes you wonder whether the police are too busy arresting themselves than nabbing ordinary felons  on the streets.

Roger Talbot ● 58d

I’m sure the police could trace them but they couldn’t be bothered because our prisons are full so there is little chance of any custodial sentences. The thieves will no doubt just receive a friendly warning.

Steve Taylor ● 60d

Do nothing, say nothing, shrug shoulders....of course they will be back!Almost certainly local-ish.If the police are unable to trace them, then Coop should be releasing the CCTV to local websites/social media at the very least.,

Nick Jenkins ● 60d

Dreadful sign of the times I'm afraid, and I can only see it getting worse. I've discovered that in most situations of this nature, the staff are told not to do anything at all, apart from just letting them get on with it, and suffer the losses. At this rate, shops will end up going out of business How has this state of affairs come to exist, and more importantly, what, if anything, can be done about it?

Brian Coyle ● 60d