The ‘temporarily closed’ shop is expected to reopen later this month
A shop inside Birmingham ICC had to ‘temporarily close’ over thefts (Image: Birmingham Mail)
A city centre shop had to close its doors because ‘lowlifes’ were robbing it ‘on a daily basis’.
Located inside the International Convention Centre, the Londis closed on August 4 and remains shut after two months.
Although shoppers were informed the convenience store closure was due to a ‘refurbishment’, it’s actually because of crime.
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JCO Retail finance director Tony Clark oversees responsibility of the Londis and revealed why the store had to make a drastic change.
With thefts occurring daily, the most extreme incident involved a manager ‘pinned’ against the shutter doors.
‘Lowlifes’ were robbing Londis inside Birmingham ICC ‘on a daily basis'(Image: BirminghamLive )
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Tony said: “We had to shut the shop because lowlifes were robbing the store on a daily basis and we had a duty of care to protect our staff.
“We had surveillance cameras installed and passed the video evidence to the police who knew the perpetrators but had no way of stopping them.
“They would come into the store, and on the worst occasions, pin our manager up against the shutter doors and take the most valuable items, presumably to sell on.
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“We purchased our own security staff which immediately stopped the thieving.
“But the cost of this could not be recouped due to the low level of footfall through the ICC Mall.”
The closed Londis is expected to reopen in the ICC later this month.
West Midlands Police were approached for comment by BirminghamLive.