News

Fines Issued To Rumbled Shoplifters

Thursday August 30 2012

Cardboard cut outs of police officers are being used to deter shoplifters.

A POLICE operation in Barnsley saw 10 people given on the spot fines for shoplifting on Friday.

The retail crime impact day saw undercover officers patrolling the town centre as well as uniformed officers searching properties for suspected stolen goods.

Some shops were even provided with cardboard cutouts of police officers - in previous areas they are believed to have reduced shoplifting by up to 75 per cent.

Chief Inspector Gwyn Thomas said: “The Force takes retail crime very seriously; it affects large and small businesses alike and can threaten the very existence of independent retailers.

"It affects us all by pushing up prices of everyday goods – the vast majority of law-abiding people who pay for the things they want do not see why others should get away with shoplifting"

In Barnsley there were ten arrests made and ten fixed penalty notices for shoplifting issued.

One fixed penalty notice was issued for possession of cannabis.

Reply Posted by Dean. on Thursday August 30 2012 at 10:04

The police should stand outside the Iceland shops in town. That's where most of the shop lifters do there lifting. It's not a case of "Mums go to Iceland" it's "Can I take your order & I'll get it you half price so I can feed my drug habit". So come on police if we can see what's going on...how come you don't?

Reply Posted by Daz on Thursday August 30 2012 at 10:17

I'd love to see the cardboard cut out chase a shoplifter, now that would be priceless. How is a cardboard cut out going to stop shoplifters, if there not frightened to steal from under the noses of security cameras, a cut out of a copper isn't going to make a blind bit of difference. It sounds like another silly hair brained idea to spend the tax payers money. Get off your backside and do some proper policing go and catch the drug dealers & pushers. It's rife with them up Sheff Rd area. That way shoplifting won't be as much of a problem.

Reply Posted by sam on Monday September 3 2012 at 09:57

well said daz.

Reply Posted by Michelle on Thursday August 30 2012 at 14:30

I've already seen a cardboard cut out been pinched so they can't be doing that good!

Reply Posted by Michelle on Thursday August 30 2012 at 14:30

I've already seen a cardboard cut out been pinched so they can't be doing that good!

Reply Posted by scott m on Thursday August 30 2012 at 19:43

Reduced shoplifting by 75%? What a load of bull, if they think a piece of cardboard is intimidating they are greatly mistaken. Someone tell Cameron that Cardboard coppers cant run.

Reply Posted by Simon on Friday August 31 2012 at 08:38

So how do they pay their fixed penalty fine? Thats right do more shoplifting. Lock them up!

Reply Posted by kaz on Friday August 31 2012 at 08:38

how will a fine stop these people they cant afford to pay them thats presumably why they are shop lifting in the first place (that and there drug or alcohol habit) i worked in shops in town centre for a long time and they would arrest the shoplifter on a monday and they would be back shoplifting again on the tuesday there is no deterant unless tougher sentences are passed on these people.

Reply Posted by tony on Friday August 31 2012 at 09:04

next thing we will be sending the cut outs up to the front line to re-place our army lads do you think we will see a 75% drop in our lads getting killed

Reply Posted by onlooker on Monday September 3 2012 at 10:16

lots of issues here. the prices we pay in this country along with taxes are extortionate. in some cases people have to shoplift. cos of "austerity measures" livelihoods have been pillaged. i have no sympathy for drug users. jailing them..hmmm that costs us tax payers a lot of money. a good way to shop is to barter. yes..barter. were not a nation who does this, we just pay the price tag. how can a shop offer half price goods at certain times?..if a coat for e.g. costs £120..make an offer of £80. when the assistant says...sorry, we cant do that. tell them..yes you can, ask the assistant to fetch their supervisor, you may have a suprise and get it at the price you offered...this may reduce the shoplifing figures.

Reply Posted by Rach on Monday September 3 2012 at 10:35

Offer £80 for a £120 coat in Barnsley? They would have my ears mounted on the till as a trophy. I see the female version of this feller is doing quite well in showbiz, saw her last night on A Touch of Cloth. Next Cannes, then the bright lights of Hollywood! I think our lad in South Yorkshire has been given a bung deal (all said with the same optimistic enthusiasm that I had of the idea of a cardboard cutout Police Officer)

Reply Posted by sharon on Saturday September 8 2012 at 22:05

how do we get one if we are a retailer?

Reply Posted by nicky on Monday September 10 2012 at 10:25

I'd try contacting SYP directly Sharon. Hope that helps.

Reply Posted by E on Sunday September 9 2012 at 00:12

I hope that normal law a binding shoppers realise that what ever they pinch it's goes on their bill because some one pays for it and it's not the firm !

Reply Posted by jon fuc ker on Sunday September 9 2012 at 00:19

I want a cardboard cutout nicola hyde lol

Reply Posted by Neil on Sunday September 9 2012 at 00:38

I ran a shop for years in town but eventually shut it down partly because of shoplifters. It int fair and they should be locked up. Btw Nicola is that really you? If so, why arent you deleting these awful comments? Or are you on your phone?

Reply Posted by nicky on Monday September 10 2012 at 10:24

Hi - I can assure you that the comment left was from a faker pretending to be me! How odd. We've now removed. We get hundreds of comments each day and the nature of WAB is that they don't go through an approval process. It's a big job trying to keep on top of it but we do our best and are looking through to remove all of them. How odd that someone wasted their time pretending to be me!

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