Salvation Army has contacted our security company to assist them with a security guard due to experiencing issues with shoplifters stealing stock and threatening staff with violence at one of their South London charity shops. They had numerous incidents were staff have been threatened and it got to the point staff even refused to attend work due to being in fear of their lives. 

Within hours from contact we have deployed a highly experienced SIA licensed security officer at the store along with specialist security  equipment (PPE – hi-visibility body armour, bodycam recording CCTV with audio/video and radios) for the store employees to communicate with our officer.

Our security guard has patrolled rigorously the shop and engaged with patrons to reassure them of their safety and to deter any potential shoplifters.

Within days from security guard deployment there were almost no more incidents at the store. Shop staff have returned to work and they felt safe knowing our officer are there to protect them.

One known offender returned to the shop and tried to take a number of items and leave without payment. Our guard challenged the shoplifter before exiting the store at which point he threatened our guard with a pocket knife. Despite being threatened with the knife our guard kept calm and managed to persuade the thief to leave the items before making a quick getaway. 

The offender description was quickly relayed onto the Met Police by our control room. The Police managed to apprehend the offender a couple of days later without further incidents.

We are pleased to report no further incidents were recorded for the duration of the contract with the Salvation Army and no staff was injured.