String of thefts, raids hit multiple c-stores

String of crime hit convenience stores over the festive period as multiple cases of theft and looting were reported from across the country.

In one of the cases, Co-op store in Pontcanna, Cardiff was targeted by a shoplifter who was also caught on video brazenly ransacking shelves and stuffing cheese packets in a rucksack. The incident is reported to have happened around 3.40pm on Sunday (29).

The customer who took the video said, "There were only two staff in the shop. One did ask the man if he was going to pay but he just walked out.

"They said they weren’t given security staff anymore, and they weren’t going to risk their lives for some packets of Coop cheese, which I thought was sensible.

"It’s company policy not to have their staff apprehend people, which is a safer approach I think. I was totally shocked though. Apparently a customer got into a fight with a shoplifter recently."

Elsewhere in Glasgow, a convenience store was targeted by two armed men who also threatened the shop's worker with an imitation of firearm.

Two men entered USave store in Lynedoch Street in Glasgow on Dec 23 and started threatening the staff. The two allegedly presented an imitation firearm at a staff member before making violent threats and demanding money from him.

The ended up stealing a pack of cigarettes and £60 in cash before leaving.

The two men were later arrested and have appeared in court where they were charged with threatening a worker at a Greenock convenience store with an imitation firearm.

Both men appeared on petition at a private hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court, where they made no plea and were committed for further examination.

They were remanded in custody, with both due to return to court within the next eight days.

In another incident in Oxfordshire, SPAR in Minster Lovell was targeted in the early hours of Friday (27) when it was ram-raided and the cash machine was stolen.

It is the second time the shop has been targeted in three months. In September, a group of masked men broke into the store using a crowbar and electrical saw.