A Nottingham shop owner says she feels “unsupported and on her own” when dealing with shoplifting, speaking out just a week after a serial thief and knife-carrier was jailed in the city.
David Tainton, 46, was jailed on November 18 after admitting 15 shop thefts, two counts of carrying knives, and drug possession.
Police found two kitchen knives, heroin, and cocaine in his rucksack when he was arrested.
He received a 26-week sentence and a 12-year ban from two Sneinton shops targeted in the offences, but the case has still stirred frustration among some retailers.
Katie Hill, 30, who runs ‘Emmy Lupin Illustration’ in Sneinton, says her current store experiences “very little” shoplifting.
“It happens once in a while, but I feel like it’s more difficult to shoplift from a small business than a chain like Co-op”.
Despite her limited experience of theft in her current shop, Hill says one concern has followed her through every role she’s had.
“I have never felt supported by Nottinghamshire Police; they do the bare minimum.
“I appreciate theft is a low-ranking crime, but the poor handling of it is why people like David Tainton get away with it for so long”.
Katie believes there should be a separate police task force for shoplifting incidents, as businesses are suffering huge losses, which she feels is not sustainable.
Oletunji Kaka, 52, who runs Thamar’s Foods on Bath Street, shares Katie’s concerns.
Speaking about shoplifting, he said: “Laws need to be enforced more strictly — it hits business owners like me financially.”
Unlike Katie, Mr Kaka says he does feel supported by Nottinghamshire Police, but believes the scale of shoplifting across the city makes it difficult for officers to respond as efficiently as businesses need.
Chief Insp Kylie Davies, who oversees policing in Nottingham city centre, said in October that knife crime had dropped by 17.6% and shoplifting by 51% through targeted patrols and partnerships.
