Brazen Laptop Theft Caught on Camera in Peterborough Shop
A shocking theft was captured on CCTV at the Holiday Money Exchange in Westgate Arcade, Peterborough, last Friday morning around 10:40 am. A man, whose face was concealed by a hat, brazenly stole a laptop worth £400 in mere seconds while distracting staff by pretending to sell his old device.
Distraction Tactics and Swift Theft
The incident unfolded as the thief entered the shop holding a black gym bag. While engaging shop workers by showing them his old laptop and inquiring about selling it, he swiftly pocketed a new laptop from a display shelf and tucked it inside his bag. This brazen act occurred in the space of a few seconds, with staff unaware of the theft as they focused on his distraction.
After stealing the electronics, the man continued his ruse by attempting to sell his used laptop to the staff. They quoted him £600 for the item, which he refused before casually asking where else he could sell it. He then left the store, even thanking the staff for their help as he departed.
Manager's Concerns and Police Response
Manager Sam Sooroya, 40, expressed frustration over the incident, noting this was the second theft at the shop within a month. He shared the CCTV footage on social media to raise awareness and deter future crimes, emphasizing that criminals often ignore surveillance cameras because they believe police will not take action.
Mr. Sooroya stated, 'We think it's gang related, and we shared the footage to social media in the hope of raising awareness and preventing it from happening again by showing them we have CCTV.' He highlighted the significant impact of shoplifting on small businesses, explaining that a £400 loss is massive for them, even if it seems minor to authorities.
'Shoplifting is on the rise, and for small businesses like ours, it's a huge problem. Although for the police it might seem on a small scale, a £400 loss for us is massive,' he added. The business shares its store with Superig Computers, which sells and repairs electronics, making it a target for such crimes.
Broader Issues and Lack of Updates
The manager described the thief's behavior as suspicious from the start, noting he entered with his bag and immediately tried to show his old laptop. 'They're so brazen because they know we have the cameras there but they don't care. They think the police will do nothing about it. It's a huge problem in this area,' Mr. Sooroya remarked.
Despite reporting the theft to Cambridgeshire Police, the shop has not received any updates on the investigation. The Daily Mail contacted the police for comment, but no further details have been disclosed. This incident underscores growing concerns about shoplifting and the challenges small businesses face in combating crime, with CCTV footage serving as a crucial but often insufficient deterrent.
