Nobody wants to be attacked over a can of alcohol

Owner says shoplifting epidemic is forcing staff to quit jobs

- SALLY HIND

A SHOPKEEPER who was attacked confronting a shoplifter has told of his battle against a huge surge in crime.

Umar Majid, who runs convenience store and cafe Baba's Kitchen in Bellshill, Lanarkshire, was smashed in the face with a can and battered by a thief almost three years ago.

The 27-year-old is still waiting for justice and said thieves now target his store almost daily while around half of his staff have been subjected to physical abuse.

He spoke after a trade body for retailers revealed shoplifting is at an all-time high and violence and abuse against shop workers has risen by 50 percent in a year.

Umar, who has just taken over the family-run shop of 40 years from his father, said: "Theft is something I really have an issue with. It's coming up for three years since I confronted someone who was stealing alcohol and they assaulted me.