Kelso, a town in Scotland, has become a target for shoplifters due to its strong local community and bustling independent businesses. Shop owners have come together to form a Shopwatch initiative, with over 70 businesses of various sizes participating in the scheme to keep a lookout for and report any suspicious activity. Using social media platforms and messaging apps, the group sends out alerts whenever a thief or shoplifter is spotted, including a description of them.
According to Karen Armstrong, the initiative’s founder and owner of Brown Newsagents & Kelso Post Office, shoplifting has been on the rise in Kelso and in Scotland. She believes that increased poverty may be a factor, though the exact cause is unknown. The Shopwatch scheme has been a success, and has helped to minimise shoplifting activity in the town. Many of the shop owners have CCTV and employ other security measures to protect their businesses.
Shoplifting has become a major issue in the UK recently, with retail crimes increasing by 35% in Co-op stores alone. In September, a Co-op boss warned that stores were descending into “anarchy”. However, the Shopwatch initiative in Kelso has shown that by coming together to protect each other, shop owners can combat shoplifting.
This Shopwatch initiative serves as an example for other towns in the UK that may be experiencing a similar situation. The sense of community and cooperation among the shop owners has been successful in keeping their businesses safe, and is something that can be replicated in other areas. With the festive season approaching, the shop owners in Kelso hope that the initiative will deter potential thieves and give them a peaceful holiday season
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More