A leading convenience retailer from south London has criticised police for not taking any action after his store was broken into last week by masked robbers, leaving him with £25,000 worth of loss in stock and damage.
Retailer Benedict Selvaratnam's Freshfields Market, a premium grocery store located in Croydon, was broken into during the early hours of March 27.
The CCTV footage, seen by Asian Trader, shows two masked men breaking into the store and clearing out the stock. The retailer confirmed that the biggest losses were cigarettes and vapes.
"The entire stock of cigarettes and vapes were taken away. The store also suffered damage as they broke the shutters and glass while making their way inside," Selvaratnam told Asian Trader.
The police is yet to take any action, the retailer said.
"What happened was really shocking and devastating for me. But what is even more shocking for me is the total lack of police response.
"We didn't open the store next day so as not to tamper the crime scene. We thought they might need to collect finger prints and evidence.
"However, the police told me to go ahead, clean up the area and continue with usual trading and that they will come when they have time. I have not heard back from them as yet. They have not even asked for CCTV footage.
"I always have been very vocal about raising issues facing convenience and small businesses, especially crime, in local, trade and mainstream media. I have always raised my voice and called on retailers to report crime cases.
"But now I can understand why so many retailers do not bother to report crime. Seeing the total apathy from the police is very disappointing. I am losing trust in the governance, law and order."
The retailer suffered huge losses. Combining loss in stock and damage to the store, he is estimating a setback of £25, 000.
"For an independent store and a businessman like me, it is not a small amount.
"It is hard to put into words what this feels like. You spend years building something, showing up for your community, supporting local events, doing what you can...and in a few minutes, a lot of that is undone," he said.