Fed-up trader urges action on store theft

Shoplifting is "rife" in Market Drayton and no business is safe, according to one fed-up shopkeeper. Andy Brown, of Sport United, wants others to help stamp out the crime.

His premises were targeted twice in a recent crimewave.

He said: "We've been here for two years and had two incidents in that time, but in the last two or three weeks we've had another two, doubling it.

"It obviously seems to be rife in the area again, and we are an easy target, but we seem to be fighting a losing battle.

"I'm not the only one. It's mainly the big stores that tend to suffer, but the trouble is what I've got in the shop is easily marketable; they can sell it and get rid of it quickly."

Mr Brown, a member of the town's Chamber of Trade, urged other traders to join ShopWatch, which warns traders about potential thieves and allows them to get in touch with police.

Constable Martin Powell said shoplifting was on the increase, but added police were clamping down.

"There certainly has been a slight upturn - it's the preferred crime at the moment by some criminal drug users to fund their habits, but persistent offenders receive custodial sentences and we are doing all we can," he said.