Co-op Stanstead Abbotts Improve Security and Staffing

East of England

The Co-Op has been part of Stanstead Abbots for decades, providing the local community and passersby of essential supplies and treats.

Of late we have noticed the increase in shoplifters, whilst we appreciate the staff are not allowed to challenge the offenders for their own safety, members of the public have, in an effort to try and make it difficult for the offenders.

We feel as users of the Co-op some of whom are Card holders, who have the right to say how the Co-op is run feel a major shake up of how the store is run in an effort to put a stop to the shoplifters or at least reduce the occurrence of goods being stolen.

The lack of staff covering shifts is glaringly obvious to those of us using the store.  Early and morning shifts always seem reasonably staffed, usually 4-5 persons. However, as the day proceeds, these numbers fall and by evening, more often than not you find 2-3 persons working and the tills unmanned. This needs to be addressed. This is the responsibility of the person in charge of the rota whom it would appear is not doing a good job. 

We have yet to see a Manager cover different shifts to ensure the smooth running of the store, in particular the late shift. As a Manager one would expect them to cover each shift in a rota over the period of a month.

Many members of the public do not like using self-service tills. They also give people the opportunity to steal by not putting all their items through. Supermarkets up north have started to remove them and reinstall tills. This is a deterrent for shoplifters.  Rearranging the shelves so that shoplifters cannot walk straight in and out is another deterrent. Installing one-way barriers, again will make life difficult for the shoplifter.

The other alternative is to have a Security Guard at the entrance checking bags on leaving. On social media this is the one thing most customers are asking the Co-op to put in place.

The Post Office is not being manned as it should be. This needs to be addressed. Many customers voice their frustration of the post office not being manned properly on social media. As card holders we find this unacceptable.

We feel it is time the Co-op became proactive in deterring these shoplifters. We do not wish to lose our store but feel if the Co-op doesn’t do something to address these issues and soon it will not survive.

From

The Stanstead Abbots Residence & Community