Mohammed Bilal feels there has been a rise in shoplifting at his store in Bathgate over the past few years.
A shop owner claims to have lost thousands of pounds following repeated instances of shoplifting and vandalism. Mohammed Bilal, 39, has said the Londis Store he runs in Bathgate has been targeted by youngsters and even local ‘professionals’.
Staff have constantly challenged people who attempt to shoplift from the store but the perpetrators have resorted to smashing the front door and windows of the South Bridge business. Initially, Mohammed complained to Police Scotland every time something happened in the store – but has given up as he feels action is never taken.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Mohammed shared a number of videos which have laid bare the grim volume of shoplifting incidents the store has to contend with. He claims his business loses £50 a day as a result of the incidents.
In one clip, a shop worker is seen wrestling a wine bottle from a potential shoplifter before it smashes on the floor. Another clip shows a woman placing an item inside her jacket while a third also appears to show a different woman putting two wine bottles in a bag.
Mohammed said: “It happens so often, they also come and break our door and our windows. I would say it is every other day someone is shoplifting.
“We have had people who work in the community in their 40s that have been caught red handed. We tell them we have caught them on CCTV.
“The shop at one stage was being smashed up every two or three days. It is costing us hundreds to fix.
“With shoplifting as well, I would say it is costing £50 a day and it is killing us. We are into thousands of pounds lost as it all adds up.
“I don’t think anyone is taking it seriously. It gets reported all the time but what is the point?
“It feels like when you phone the police it is as if you are bothering them. So I just stopped reporting it. All the shop owners face this. It is happening all the time.”
Police Scotland was contacted for a comment by our sister title.
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