Shoppers 'intimidated and afraid' after repeated masked raids by thieves

Customers who witness shoplifting in a Glasgow supermarket where “repeated” masked raids have been carried out have been urged to contact the police.

Shoppers have been left “intimidated and afraid” after incidents at the Sainsbury’s store in Muirend, according to local councillors who called for a security guard to be employed.

The Clarkson Road supermarket is on the boundary of Glasgow and East Renfrewshire, and Cllr Katie Pragnell, Labour, asked police chiefs for advice for visitors to the Muirend at a meeting last week.

The East Renfrewshire councillor’s query came after two Glasgow Labour councillors, John Carson and Catherine Vallis, who represent Muirend, wrote to Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts about the incidents in December.

Cllr Pragnell said constituents in her Clarkston, Netherlee and Williamwood ward were a “bit wary” and “frightened” following the raids.

She has received a “lot of emails” from concerned residents, as many people in her ward use the shop, particularly those living in Netherlee, Stamperland and Giffnock.

The councillor asked what action the police are taking and what customers can do for their “personal safety”.

Chief Inspector Gillian Faulds, the new local area commander for East Renfrewshire, said her team are “fully sighted on the shoplifting incidents” and “regularly attend various supermarkets”.

“We do have a few supermarkets which have been particularly targeted,” she added. “We do have some issues with some youth disorder in the area as well.

“I would encourage them to report it, because if it’s reported then I know about it, and I can put additional patrols in place in the area.”

The chief inspector added reporting will allow the force to “understand how big an issue it is”. She said: “We certainly do link in with the security as well because clearly they have their own part to play, in relation to internally.

“We have got good working relationships with the supermarkets. Please just encourage the reporting and I will monitor that going forward.”

Cllr Carson and Cllr Vallis, who both represent Glasgow’s Linn ward, reported “repeated shoplifting incidents carried out by masked individuals” to Mr Roberts.

They said shoppers were “intimidated and afraid” and asked for a security guard to be employed. The pair also said Police Scotland had committed to regular patrolling “where possible”, but are “unable to watch the store and immediate area on a continual basis”.

They believe a security guard can deter “future criminal behaviour” and “restore confidence in the local community that concerns for the safety of customers and staff… are being taken seriously”.

At the time, Sainsbury’s said customer and staff safety was its “highest priority” and it was working with Police Scotland.