We want masks banned in our town after footage of untouchable child shoplifters… it’s huge problem but no-one speaks up

STORE owners in a town where two children in balaclavas were filmed shoplifting have called for a ban on masks. The tiny thieves – who are thought to be as young as five – were captured wearing balaclavas as they snatched watermelon and other fruit before fleeing. Husband and wife, Johnnie and Lorna Lovell from BH Vape say masks should be banned Credit: BNPS Erdogan Yigitoglu who owns Premier Food and Wine where the child thieves were filmed Credit: SWNS Disturbing footage shows very young kids dressed in balaclavas Credit: BNPS Another tiny shoplifter caught on camera Credit: BNPS The disturbing footage was captured by shopkeeper Erdogan Yigitoglu, who says the incident is just one example of the enormous shoplifting problem facing his business on Charminster Road, Bournemouth. And now other traders have told The Sun they want the wearing of masks inside shops banned. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Mr Yigitoglu, 52 – who has run his store for 19 years – said he was stunned to see such young children involved during the incident, understood to have taken place last year. He claims one mum even smiled and patted a boy on the head, as if congratulating him on the theft. The scene has drawn comparisons to Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, in which criminal Fagin employs children to steal on his behalf. Mr Yigitoglu said: “It seemed like they were training the kids to steal. I’m a father myself and I just thought that is such a bad way to raise kids.” He says he has further CCTV of other brazen thefts – with fellow traders also up in arms. Johnnie and Lorna Lovell, who run BH Vape, told The Sun this week people should be banned from wearing face coverings in shops – but encouraged storekeepers to be alert. Most read in The Sun Erdogan said nobody has come forward and he has not seen them again Credit: BNPS The bewildered shopkeeper was stunned by the scenes Credit: BNPS The two boys appeared to make off with fruit from the stalls outside The smaller lad appeared to grab a watermelon Johnnie, 61, said: “We are an established venue here for 15 years, we don’t have any problems with shoplifters but that’s because we don’t give them the opportunity. “We have CCTV and we don’t really leave anything out they can take without us seeing. “But it is a problem in the area. I think the shops are allowing it, everybody is scared to take action.” He continued: “All we can do as shopkeepers is keep eyes out and minimise the opportunity – don’t put your stock out the front. Owners have got to be more alert. “You also have to look at the parents of these young kids letting them go out and do this in balaclavas. I think any head covering should be banned in shops. “And I think we need some stronger rules and government because it is really prevalent.” Alex Shenker, 35, who works with them, added: “I saw the footage of the kids in balaclavas, it was pretty shocking. “Even though you couldn’t see their faces, they looked really little. Shopkeeper Erdogan Yigitoglu filmed the incident Credit: BNPS The road has been blighted by thefts Credit: BNPS “I don’t think anyone has ever got a good intention if they’re wearing a balaclava.” A worker at the Taj Supermarket said shoplifting used to involve only alcoholics or drug users, but now it seems like everyone is doing it. They said: “I think shoplifting is a real problem at the moment because of the rise in prices. We do have to keep watch and we have CCTV through the shop. “It used to just be people with alcohol or drugs problems, now it seems to be anyone. “You get smartly-dressed people and kids shoplifting so you don’t know who is a shoplifter and who’s not.” Another shopkeeper, who didn’t want to be named, said: “We don’t have an issue because we have a bit of a reputation, we don’t allow it. “But I think it’s more of an issue for other shops, it might be the way they have their shop set up, it’s easier for people to steal. “Times are hard and it happens to every business, the number of incidents is definitely going up. “I think shoplifters think they can get away with it because they know police won’t come out for less than £200 value so they’re saying ‘you can’t touch me’.” Erdogan – who said he shared the footage on social media in a bid to identify the youngsters – said nobody has come forward and he has not seen them again. In one alarming raid at his store, a man allegedly stole £120 worth of disposable barbecues in a matter of seconds. Another incident showed an elderly woman using a walking frame allegedly pilfering chocolate. Erdogan also described a man who threw tomatoes at passersby before allegedly mooning people. He recalled another case involving a girl aged around 11 or 12 who stole a toothbrush, before her mum returned to pay and apologise. He said: “Of course these incidents make us fearful. They affect us much more than people might realise. “Sometimes we feel that we cannot even breathe properly because we are so worried about what might happen next. “Even when we leave the shop, our minds are still here. “We are always thinking, ‘has anything gone missing? Has someone stolen something?’ “You cannot properly switch off from it!” The dad-of-three said his biggest concern is the effect such behaviour could have on children who grow up seeing theft as normal. He said: “What concerns me most is the effect this can have on the next generation. “If young people grow up seeing this behaviour as normal or something to copy, I really worry about where we will be in the future if nothing changes.” He added: “My message is simple: we need to stop treating shoplifting as something normal or harmless. “We want to see action so that small businesses can feel safe again.” Comment now