'Fearless' shoplifters target Hampstead gift shop

The Susan Wainwright gift shop, in South End Green, Hampstead, used to leave its door wide open for customers to come and go as they pleased.

But since March thieves have stolen goods, destroyed the till to get money and last week smashed the front window.

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Customers at the South End Road shop must now ring the doorbell to be let in.

Barbara Hoffman, who has worked for Susan Wainwright for 22 years, said: "We've never needed a door bell, it used to be held wide open with a doorstop but in May we introduced a lock system because we had so many shoplifters. It's really escalated in the past few months."

The gift shop door stays locked and customers must buzz to get in which Susan Wainwright says is 'bad for business' (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Ms Hoffman said shoplifters do not take just one or two items, they fill their bags.

She added: "They have a very arrogant, entitled attitude. Even when we catch them they say 'what are you going to do about it?' They are so brazen."

Founder Susan Wainwright has been forced to pay out more than £1,000 after several thefts.

Thieves broke the till at Susan Wainwright gift shop,  so cash is no longer kept on the premises (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

She said having to keep the door shut and buzz people in was "bad for business."

Ms Wainwright said some customers do not want to ring the bell and wait, some feel locked in and others "run away" because staff do not have time to let them in.

Jellycat toys, which start at £20,  are often stolen by shoplifters who go on to sell them on eBay and other sites (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

"Bad people are still trying to get in with good people," Ms Wainwright added. "They are getting more and more ruthless and it's not nice for us to have to judge people.

"It's not good for business. We're not getting richer, we're getting poorer."

The shop owner called for harsher punishments. "There are no repercussions," she said. "If they steal £200, which they do all the time, the police can't do anything and you can't claim insurance."

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: "As part of our continued work with retailers across London, we know first-hand the impact that retail crime has on staff and businesses. 

"We have renewed our commitment to tackling shoplifting and retail crime in collaboration with the wider business community.

"In partnership with retailers, we have also recently launched a new targeted operation across the capital to crackdown on this crime and support them and their staff.

"Our call handlers will assess each and every report and make an assessment based on available lines of enquiry.

"We continue to use data and technology, such as phone tracking and surveillance techniques, to target offenders and investigate crimes that impact those living and working in London.”