Bodyguard At Oxfam

[Ste7en]

Bodyguard At Oxfam

A Charity shop has been forced to employ a minder after attacks on staff.

Workers at the Oxfam branch in Didsbury village have been verbally abused and threatened and a shoplifter threatened to hit the manager over the head with an iron bar.

A full-time minder now works in the shop as under- cover back-up for staff.

He will help reduce the number of attacks - and also the high level of thefts.

Shoplifters were targeting the outlet towards the end of last year - when the Oxfam was holding an in-house auction. Thieves made off with valuable items including a pair of Victorian children's clogs and a gold bracelet worth £100.

The series of thefts reached such a level that the shop had the worst safety record out of all the Oxfam shops across Greater Manchester.

But now Wendy Elliott - who has been managing the Oxfam outlet for 18 months - said she has beefed up security to stop shoplifters.

Mrs Elliott, 50, said: "I was appalled when I first came to Didsbury. Last year a man came in and threatened me with an iron bar when I confronted him about shoplifting.

"It was awful because there was only me and two other ladies in the shop at the time and he was a big man. Another time our shop assistant was threatened.

"They steal everything, they have been taking things from the donations left outside the shop - and they take the best things.

"You'd think they might leave us alone because we're a charity shop trying to help people but I think they see us as a soft touch.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/

[taylor104]

It was the same at our local Mothercare. Gangs of toddlers steaming in, taking all the expensive stuff, threatening the staff and leaving sticky handprints all over the walls.
I left after one particular harrowing experience when three very belligerent, hooded toddlers threatened to kick my shins and drool on my shoes, all because I said they could'nt come in without an adult!

Sorry, I'll get me coat......

AJ