Penarth town centre shops fear 'organised' shoplifting

A number of businesses in Penarth in recent months have told the Penarth Times about "brazen" incidents of shoplifting. 

In the last 12 months, shoplifting in England and Wales has risen to a new 20-year high with the Office for National Statistics revealing offences have increased by 30 per cent. 

South Wales Police logged 44,996 shoplifting offences since April 2021 and figures have increased rapidly since 2023, found Personal Injury Claims UK. 

In a Penarth Town Council meeting, on September 12, Inspector Chile Gareth said: “I am aware commercial burglaries can be a problem for this area.” 

In the meeting, Councillor Mike Cuddy asked: “Have you noticed any incidents of organised theft?” 

The inspector replied: “I have not picked up anything to suggest organised crime. This is just day to day shoplifting.” 

He went on to advise that major retailers consider security and urged local businesses to install CCTV cameras to help officers identify suspects.

A retail manager says he has witnessed shoplifters using 'organised' strategies

Manager of Peacocks on Windsor Road, George Edmunds, 25, said while CCTV footage helps identify offenders, they are facing "organised" theft incidents. 

“It is Christmas. The closer we get the worse it gets, but it is getting better. We have the regulars’ names and faces because we have CCTV. 

“If we catch them, they are barred from the stores. We did once see one of our regulars wearing a jumper from the store while trying to steal something else – they are really bold. 

“You used to be able to stop them, but now until they’ve walked out the store, they technically haven’t stolen it.” 

The jumper in a different place described as an example of shoplifter's strategy by the manager (Image: Newsquest) He told the Argus, pointing to an item in front of him as an example, that the incidents of theft involve multiple people using strategies. 

I can see them doing it. They put it on the end and someone else will come in and bag it. 

“If we notice an item like over here, we keep an eye out because people come in and ask questions and while the other tries to take the item.”

Read more

• Penarth police inspector on Christmas shoplifting concerns

• Penarth workers frustrated dealing with shoplifting daily

On October 10, in a council for the Vale of Glamorgan, Inspector Gareth Childs gave an update on crime patterns and specifically raised shoplifting in Penarth town Centre. 

“We’ve got shoplifting in Penarth town centre which we are looking at the presence. We’ve done a number of initiatives there with some crime prevention.

“We’ve been now to visit the stores and given that crime prevention advice and put in a lot of crime prevention advice.

“We are trying to identify who the regular offenders are.

“We’ve identified some of them and we will be looking at ways and means of bringing them into custody in the course of the next couple of weeks. 

Penarth town centre during the festive season (Image: Newsquest)“I’m trying to move the figures as we are coming up to the Christmas period.  

“We are trying to get on top of that crime which has taken place in Penarth town centre and trying to bring some of those numbers down.  

“There aren’t huge numbers, but they do have an effect on the Penarth Community and I’m very conscious of that. It is something I want to bring down.”