A shopkeeper has been left stunned after police told him to change his sign calling shoplifters ‘scumbags’ because it may be offensive.
Rob Davies, 61, who runs the Run Ragged vintage shop in Wrexham, North Wales, installed the notice to tell shoppers some cabinets were locked against theft.
The hard-working retailer put it up after he caught five thieves red-handed in the last 12 months alone and lost roughly £200 of stock to shoplifting.
He felt the police did little to help when he reported the five thefts and so he gave up doing so, instead taking matters into his own hands to protect his small business.
His handmade note reads: ‘Due to scumbags shoplifting, please ask for assistance to open cabinets.’
But to his surprise, after months of frustration with the police, officers turned up to the shop – though only to tell him to remove the sign.
He was told a member of the public had reported it to the force as it could be seen as ‘provocative and offensive’.
Mr Davies said: ‘I just wonder if that person was a shoplifter who was offended as it was detrimental to their work?’
A shopkeeper (pictured) has been left stunned after police told him to change his sign calling shoplifters ‘scumbags’ because it may be offensive
Rob Davies, 61, who runs the Run Ragged vintage shop in Wrexham, North Wales, installed the notice (pictured) to tell shoppers some cabinets were locked against theft
The hard-working retailer put it up after he caught five thieves red-handed in the last 12 months alone and lost roughly £200 of stock to shoplifting. Pictured: The Run Ragged vintage shop
The shopkeeper added the officers ‘advised me to reword them’ – but he was determined this would ‘not happen’.
He said: ‘You couldn’t make it up…
‘Well, guys, if you know me, you will know I don’t mean to cause offence but in this case, please feel free to be offended and stop frequenting my shop – you are no loss.’
Mr Davies added: ‘It apparently caused offence to someone. The only people it should be causing offence to are the shoplifters.
‘One person whinges about a sign, and the police turn up and ask if I can take the signs down.
‘I have a legitimate reason to complain to the police due to thieving, they don’t turn up.’
He explained: ‘The police came out to the first [theft he reported], handed me back the shirt the guy had stolen and told him to get on his way.’
In contrast, he said: ‘It seems like the big names like Tesco and the Co-op are the ones prolific shoplifters are being banned from.’
Mr Davies said: ‘I have a legitimate reason to complain to the police due to thieving, they don’t turn up’. Pictured: File photo
The shopkeeper has spent the last five years running the quirky shop that sells vintage clothing and accessories.
‘This is my livelihood,’ he said, adding, ‘Every penny counts for me.’
He continued: ‘When people are stealing your safety net, what are you supposed to do?…
‘It’s compounded with the cost of living, the business rates and everything else.
‘Domestic electricity bills are a totally different price to commercial – commercial is nearly double.
‘When you’re not getting back up by the authorities you’re paying for, it’s really difficult.’
But Mr Davies said the community has come together to support his drive to keep the signs up.
In fact, a fellow shopkeeper gave him another sign reading: ‘If you find anything offensive here, please let us know so we can have a good laugh.’
Mr Davies said the community has come together to support his drive to keep the signs up. Pictured: File photo of Wrexham High Street
Mr Davies said: ‘It means a lot and restored my faith that there is that sense of community.’
He was mostly amused by the bizarre incident: ‘Now, back to the real world, I hope this makes you smile, it did me.’
And commenters on a Facebook post he made about it found it just as funny: ‘Spare a tiny violin for those of us who have their pearls well and truly culutched, wa, wa, wa.’
Another wrote: ‘Jeez, that’s hilarious. I think the complainer needs to find something else to do with their time. I know of some drying paint that needs to be watched.’
Someone else said, ‘This is quite mild if you ask me’, while one added: ‘Make the signs bigger. Support you totally.’
Before opening his store, the shopkeeper worked as a weapons expert, helping on the fight scenes for Hollywood blockbusters like Gladiator and Braveheart.
Wrexham City District Inspector Rhodri Ifans told the Daily Mail: ‘All incidents of retail crime, no matter how big, should be reported to police at the earliest opportunity to enable us to effectively respond to any offences.
‘All reports of shoplifting are taken extremely seriously, and we are committed to combatting retail theft in the city.
‘Each day, my officers go above and beyond to identify risk individuals and locations to prevent further incidents of shoplifting.
‘A dedicated team of officers in Wrexham have consistently maintained the highest detection rate for shoplifting offences within the force over the past two years, which is a credit to their commitment to protect local retailers and pursue repeat offenders.
‘Over the last 12 months alone, a total of 14 individuals who repeatedly committed shoplifting offences within the city have been subjected to a community behaviour order (CBO) through the courts, preventing them from entering the city centre.
‘In addition to this, several civil restraining orders have also been issued to repeat offenders locally.
‘Whilst robust action is taken against those who shoplift, we always look to take a proactive approach initially to signposting and supporting those struggling with alcohol or substance misuse to try and disrupt or negate repeat offending.
‘Protecting staff, businesses and their customers from this type of criminality, which has created a significant impact on their wellbeing and business, is a priority in Wrexham city.’
