A shopkeeper in Wales couldn't believe it when police asked him to change an 'offensive' sign following a spate of shoplifting.
While some people are being forced into drastic measures due to the cost of living crisis, stealing from local shops is only going to make things worse, particularly when they are local businesses.
Rob Davies, who owns the Run Ragged retro shop in Wrexham, has been hit by a lot of crime and decided to do something about it, by putting up a sign deterring others from doing the same.
The sign simply explained: "Due to scumbags shoplifting, please ask for assistance to open cabinets."
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Rather than police seeking to help the business owner who people were stealing from, they instead visited the gift shop to inform Mr Davies that his sign had been reported for being 'offensive', something that left him stunned.
He said: "You couldn't make it up. When I asked who it could offend I was told a member of the public had reported the sign to them,I just wonder if that person was a shoplifter who was offended as it was detrimental to their work?
“Well guys if you know me you will know I don’t mean to cause offence but in this case please feel free to be offended and stop frequenting my shop you are no loss.”
Mr Davies was asked by police if he would consider re-wording his sign but told them that wasn't on the cards.
The 61-year-old added: "It apparently caused offence to someone. The only people it should be causing offence to are the shoplifters.
"One person whinges about a sign, and the police turn up and ask if I can take the signs down.
"I have a legitimate reason to complain to the police due to thieving, they don't turn up."
He also feels that, while his requests for police to deal with shoplifters are often ignored, bigger companies have far more success - despite his shop being his livelihood.
Mr Davies said: "This is my livelihood. When people are stealing your safety net, what are you supposed to do?
"In the last year I've caught five shoplifters, reported all of them. The police came out to the first one, handed me back the shirt the guy had stolen and told him to get on his way.
"Every penny counts for me.But it seems like the big names like Tesco and the Co-op are the ones prolific shoplifters are being banned from.
"It's compounded with the cost of living, the business rates and everything else. Domestic electricity bills are a totally different price to commercial - commercial is nearly double.
"When you're not getting back up by the authorities you're paying for, it's really difficult."
The punishments for shoplifting in the UK certainly seem less severe than elsewhere, as one British comedian revealed she was facing three years in a Turkish prison after 'forgetting to pay' for an item in a shop.
Topics: Cost of Living, Crime, UK News, Business
James Moorhouse