Radio plan to stop thieves
A hi-tech early warning system used by big chain stores to thwart thieves could help reduce the £7,500 monthly shoplifting bill faced by traders in Market Drayton, it was claimed today.
Roy Aldcroft, chairman of Market Drayton Chamber of Commerce, said traders had been exploring the possibility of installing a crime-busting radio kit in their shops to ward off any would-be thieves.
Under the shopwatch scheme, traders would have access to a network of retailers sharing information via radio technology.
It comes after the extent of shoplifting in the town was revealed in a survey carried out by the chamber.
It showed traders are being clobbered to the tune of £7,500 each month by thieves.
Mr Aldcroft said: "There is a system which one of the major stores uses and it has been trialled and used successfully to reduce retail crime.
"It gives an early warning to members of potential miscreants on the prowl in town shops.
"It's something traders are looking at, but there is more to it than just prevention - theft is a social problem."
He added that he hoped to arrange a meeting between traders, police and possibly magistrates to discuss ways of tackling the issue.
Meanwhile, Ellesmere has outshone Nottingham and Cheltenham in a major nationwide shopping survey.
The market town has ranked 11th in a nationwide mystery shopping exercise.
It comes after independent shops in Ellesmere were secretly assessed.
After two visits to each of 27 participating shops, the town's overall score was rated at 85.4 per cent placing it 11th out of the 71 towns which took part.
