Small business owner says thefts feel 'personal'

A small business owner has praised the Essex Police response to thefts from his market stall while pointing out that the thefts felt ‘personal’.

Paul Rich sells quality Italian knitwear on a stall in Saffron Walden, owned by his father and his grandfather before him.

Last month, he realised that three jumpers had been stolen in four weeks so he reported the thefts to Essex Police. He says: 

“I got an outstanding response.”

Town centre PC Ryan McNamara checked Saffron Walden Town Council’s CCTV cameras covering the market square and found footage of the thefts.

Paul says:

“Ryan knew time was a key factor and smashed it out of the park. I couldn’t be happier. Really well done.
“He is well known in the town centre and, if something happens here, I feel like Ryan takes it personally. Anyone can do their job but doing it well and doing it in the manner he does is another thing altogether.”

Following a police media appeal, two women were identified. A 78-year-old woman subsequently received a conditional caution for three shop thefts and is required to pay back the cost of the jumpers, £105. No further action was taken against a second woman.

Paul says social media comments supporting the pensioner were ‘upsetting’.

“They wouldn’t like it if it happened to them. Crime is crime and it’s not right.
“I’m trying to earn a living for my young family. My family has had a stall on this market for 70 years so the person who stole from me would have recognised me.
“Even if you don’t speak to someone, there’s a certain familiarity and the fact they still felt fine to take from me was quite sickening.
“When you steal something it’s not as simple as ‘Oh, they won’t miss it, they can replace it.
“It’s not just a jumper. It costs a lot of money to run a small business like this. There’s the rent and the cost of the stock as well as profit lost. If you steal, you’re taking food out of the mouths of my family.”

Paul hopes his story may cause anyone thinking of stealing to reconsider. He says:

“Thankfully, there are CCTV cameras around Saffron Walden town centre which I hope will deter anyone else thinking of stealing from our businesses.
“You can be seen and you will be found, as my case proves.”

Ryan adds:

“Our retailers, small business owners and market traders work really hard. 
“They are trying to make a living for themselves and their families and stealing is not right.
“What helps us to identify shoplifters and get them to court is good quality CCTV footage and witness statements. People faced with those often plead guilty at the first opportunity.”

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