Warning as thieves target supermarket tills
Business owners have been warned to check their alarms
Last updated 23rd Jun 2022
Staffordshire Police are warning retail workers and shoppers to be vigilant following an increase in reports of thieves targeting cashier tills at supermarkets across the region.
In the last two days, four thefts have taken place at popular supermarkets in Rugeley, Cannock and Uttoxeter.
The first theft took place at around 2.30am on Tuesday (21 June) on Power Station Road in Rugeley.
Two male offenders broke in and stole a total of four till cassettes, containing an unknown amount of cash.
Both of the men were wearing yellow gloves, with one them dressed in black and the other dressed in grey tracksuit bottoms, a black top and a grey hooded sweatshirt.
The same premises had been previously targeted on 8 March, where two men forced entry at around 2.20am and took approximately £5,000 in cash from the cassettes.
Following the March theft, a stolen black Audi, which is believed to be used by the offenders to arrive at the scene, was discovered abandoned nearby.
Similar circumstances were also reported at a supermarket on Town Meadows Way in Uttoxeter on 13 June.
Two men, wearing balaclavas and gloves, forced entry into the premises and attempted to break-open the cash tills inside, but were unsuccessful.
It comes as, on 10 March, three offenders forced entry into a supermarket at the Orbital Retail Centre in Cannock shortly before 10pm.
They attempted to break-open till cassettes inside but were unsuccessful and left the premises in a vehicle parked nearby.
Chief Inspector Giles Parsons, business crime lead for the force, said: “Business owners and employees should regularly inspect the alarm within the premises and ensure it is working correctly.
“Potential points of forced entry, such as side-doors or windows, should be made secure where possible and covered by CCTV cameras.
“Cash should be stored in bolted-down safes where possible and removed from till cassettes overnight.”
For more information on how to protect your business from burglars, visit: Business crime prevention | Staffordshire Police