SHOPLIFTERS, you'd better watch out and we are telling you why...
The Grimsby Telegraph and Humberside Police need your help to lock up wanted criminals by identifying those in CCTV images released during the 12 days running up to Christmas.
Every day, a new CCTV image will appear on our website at www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk, in the paper, and on the police's website and social network pages. The people pictured are wanted for a number of thefts, from cash to baby clothes, alcohol to chocolate. Today, shopkeepers are backing the Christmas campaign, as they reveal the real impact of shop theft on the business and the wider community.
These two men are kicking it all off on the first day of Christmas – wanted in connection with theft from Iceland on Grimsby's Freeman Street.
Duncan Miles, head of security at Iceland, said: "The impact of shoplifting goes a lot further than the actual items stolen or the monetary value.
"The crime usually is committed with abuse and threats made to staff; providing a lasting fear of retribution, further abuse in or out of the place of work or worse.
"We are continually upgrading and introducing new physical security measures in stores, working in partnership with local and regional business against crime schemes and have developed good relationships with the police".
One local shop constantly battling against shoplifters is Penny's Today, in Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes. Owner Wayne Edwards, 38, said it is "frustrating" and it lowers "morale".
"We have a big problem with shoplifters on a weekly basis, even though we have CCTV. It is more common on a weekend and the most popular item criminals steal is a pack of £9.99 beer.
"We buy them in at £9.50, only making 49p. So when they steal it, we lose £9.50. It has a massive impact.
"We have to put double staff on to deter shoplifters which costs more money. We also, unfortunately, lose good staff because shoplifters make them feel uncomfortable.
"It is a constant battle and it would be good to see this campaign work."
Shops and commercial premises do pick up the bill for stolen items, and will often increase the prices of the things they sell to make back the money they have lost.
Sam Jackson, owner of WHS newsagent of Fairgate, Grimsby, said shoplifting "eats into their profit".
He said: "We have a massive problem with shoplifting and it would really help if these regular offenders are caught.
"It really costs us if we don't catch them because we are losing our stock."
Another store, A&S in Brereton Avenue, Cleethorpes, said they catch their offenders red-handed 90 per cent of the time.
Sailash Patel, owner, said: "We have 16 cameras in our shop, so we can keep an eye on the whole area.
"It's important to protect your shop from shoplifters and for us, CCTV seems to be working."
The two men pictured today entered the store at about 12.50pm on October 19. One is seen to pick up 10 packets of Kit Kats and place them into a black bag. They both leave the store and do not pay.
Every day from now, until Christmas Eve, including Sundays, a new CCTV image will be posted on the Grimsby Telegraph website www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk
The details of the offence will be given and a reference number to quote should you be able to identify the person or people in the image.
The image will also be uploaded on the Humberside Police Facebook and Twitter pages.
If you know these two men, call Humberside Police on 101 and quote reference AC/2004351/2013.
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