‘We Feel Powerless’: Glasgow Shopkeeper’s 100 Crime Reports Yield No Prosecutions
A Glasgow shopkeeper claims his business has been targeted by criminals more than 100 times in its first year of trading, with not a single shoplifter being prosecuted despite every incident being reported to Police Scotland.
Mohammad Sheikh, owner of the News Plus store on Sauchiehall Street, says he is exhausted and the business is struggling to survive after losing an estimated £20,000 to theft and damage. He reports that his staff have been assaulted and harassed repeatedly, creating an atmosphere of fear.
A Daily Struggle Against Crime
Mohammad, who has over two decades of experience running shops in the city, describes this location as the worst he has ever encountered. "They target us instead of the bigger shops because they have security guards and loads of staff, and we don't," he explained.
The crime spree is not minor. Individuals and groups, often ‘repeat offenders’ comprising young boys in groups of five to ten, enter the shop, push staff, throw items, and brazenly steal stock from shelves and from behind the counter. One recent incident saw a perpetrator jump over the counter, destroy a perspex screen, and pull over display units.
"The police tell us we can't touch them, can't stop them, and can't lock them in the store to await officers arriving," Mohammad stated. He added that the advice to have two staff members on duty at all times is financially unfeasible.
Economic and Human Cost
The impact extends beyond financial loss. "I'm stressed all the time because the business is making a loss, my staff are not feeling safe at work," Mohammad said. "No one should be going to work and not feeling safe."
A staff member echoed this sentiment, revealing the frightening reality: "It's shocking... There's not a lot we can do to defend ourselves; you don't know if they could be carrying a weapon, and it can be really scary."
The situation is also damaging the city's reputation. Mohammad recounted an incident where a group of tourists, alarmed by the behaviour of a repeat offender, abandoned their shopping and left the store. "What an advert for the city," he sighed.
A Plea for Police Action
Expressing his frustration, Mohammad feels let down by the authorities. "We should be protected by the police, and they definitely aren't right now... We've done our job on our side by reporting them; now it's in the police's hands. They need to arrest them. That's their job."
He warns that without arrests, the problem will only escalate. "If they don't arrest these boys, they will keep going, and their crimes could get more serious."
In response, Inspector Jonathan Watters from Police Scotland confirmed they are aware of the incidents and are liaising with the reporter. He highlighted high-visibility patrols and the recent establishment of a dedicated Retail Crime Taskforce in Glasgow to enhance enforcement and prevention.
Despite these measures, for Mohammad Sheikh and his staff, the promise of action has yet to become a reality, leaving the future of their small business hanging in the balance.
