Drunks targeting York charity shops (From Gazette & Herald)

Drunks targeting York charity shops

CHARITY shop staff in York have told today how city centre branches are being plagued by abusive shoplifters.

Shops manned by volunteers have been repeatedly robbed by drug addicts and drunks.

One Oxfam branch has been forced to install expensive security equipment in an effort to combat the problem.

Alice Gambell, assistant manager at the Scope charity shop, in Colliergate, said it was seen as an "easy target".

Alice, 21, of Micklegate, claimed staff were reluctant to confront culprits as they always "turn nasty" and threaten them.

"These people come into the shop out of their faces on drugs and drink," she said.

"They put on our clothes in the changing rooms and run out without paying.

"The shoplifters think they can get away with it because it's a charity shop and they know there are no security tags on our clothes."

Alice said hundreds of pounds-worth of clothing had been stolen in recent weeks, and other nearby charity shops had also been targeted.

She is now proposing to meet other managers to develop an early warning system, alerting them to approaching shoplifters.

The Oxfam shop, in Goodramgate, was recently forced to install spy cameras to monitor the store and till area.

Assistant manager John Messer said he backed talks on an early warning system.

"Shoplifters and street drinkers are coming in on a daily basis trying to help themselves to stuff."

He said he was aware of two Oxfam shoplifters who had been prosecuted in the last few weeks.

"Charity shops are seen as easy targets, without a doubt," he added. "And we don't want to put our volunteers at risk."

Colina Schofield, the manager at Help The Aged, in Goodramgate, said: "It's a very difficult situation."

Alice Gambell claimed many of the shoplifters gathered outside the controversial nearby BT phone box, allegedly used by drug dealers.

The Evening Press has reported that York Police chiefs contacted BT to ask for the St Saviourgate phones to be moved after numerous complaints from residents and taxi drivers on a nearby rank.

But that was rejected by BT because of the boxes' "lucrative nature". It said the problem would simply move elsewhere in the city.

"I've seen people dealing drugs outside the shop," added Alice.

"The other day a drunk came in holding a can of beer with blood pouring from his face. He just looked round the shop as if nothing was wrong - I couldn't believe it.

"All we want is more police officers walking up and down the street to act as a deterrent. Our volunteers shouldn't have to put up with it."

A BT spokesman said the company was unable to remove kiosks without consultation, even if they were not being used.

But he said BT would normally work with the police and local councils if there were problems attached to a phone box.

Acting Sergeant Rick Ball, of York police, said officers had worked with BT to get incoming calls to the box blocked.

He said this put people off using it for drug deals.

He condemned the charity shop incidents and said officers were planning a crackdown on retail crime.

"I sympathise with the shop staff. This is something we do not want to happen," he said.

Updated: 10:02 Wednesday, January 28, 2004