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Off-Licence Stores All Produce Behind Bullet Proof Glass To Prevent Thefts

Off-Licence Stores All Produce Behind Bullet Proof Glass To Prevent Thefts

This shop ain't getting lifted

Jake Massey

Jake Massey

For the humble off-licence, our late night booze saviour, shoplifters represent a huge threat - with every looting taking a chunk out of their profit margin.

But for one offy in Basildon, Essex, UK, they pose no such threat. That's because all its produce is stored behind bullet proof glass.

The store is the stuff of every shoplifter's nightmares.
BPM

Not just expensive spirits and cigarettes - all of it. If you go in there with an AK-47 in search of some free beans, you will leave empty-handed.

The Felmores Offy has been this way for 20 years, since the previous owner made the drastic installation after a number of thefts.

Current manager, Karen Waldon, said: "They installed it because of all the robberies they used to have. There were smash and grabs.

"They used to just walk in and walk out with whatever they wanted. In the end they got fed up with it and decided to put this up to stop it."

So, if all the food is behind glass, how does one acquire one's beans? It's simple, one just walks up to the counter - which is boxed off by loads of glass and metal bars - and says: "Excuse me, may one have a tin of beans?"

A member of staff then goes and fetches your beans and passes them through to you once you've paid - no shots fired, no beans stolen.

You could say the layout gives the shop character.
BPM

For locals, the rather inconvenient convenience store has become normal, but for those who inexplicably end up in the Felmores estate in need of booze/beans, it can be a little confusing.

Karen said: "People literally will try and open the door. They'll try and say 'I want to be where you are'. But they're not allowed to be where I am."

Tammy Spriggs, who works in the shop, said the setup belies the friendly nature of the community.

She said: "Nine times out of ten, if people aren't from the area people will ask and say: 'Oh is it that bad around here?'

"But we say it's not. You have your troubles same as you have everywhere, but we're a nice community and we all know each other. We never really get trouble in here anymore."

Staff have to collect a customer's purchases from behind the glass.
BPM

While the unorthodox layout may be a tad intimidating, it seems to work at least, with no break ins or thefts to speak of in the past decade. By contrast, Martins newsagent at the other end of the parade was burgled twice in the space of a week in 2016.

Plus, you could say it gives the shop character - albeit quite a depressing character.

Karen said: "Obviously it's safer, it makes it safer for us girls in the evenings. Locals know us and how to shop with us.

"There's only one like this, we are definitely unique.

Featured Image Credit: BPM

Topics: UK News, Weird

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

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@jakesmassey