Shoplifting scheme launched in Welshpool

Shoplifters caught in Welshpool are to be banned from all shops participating in the town's new scheme - Shoplift And Be Banned (SABB).

Welshpool Neighbourhood Policing Team has come up with a new scheme to help combat the town’s shoplifting problemsand shopkeepers attended a meeting at Welshpool Fire Station last night to get the programme off the ground..

The initiative will mirror the BOBB (Behave Or Be Banned) scheme currently operated by local licensees.

“The town does have a shoplifting problem and this is just one element of our fight against the crime,” said Inspector Diane Davies.

“The BOBB scheme has been a tremendous success and has helped reduce violent crime considerably thanks to the support of the licensees. This is an opportunity for the shopkeepers to take some control over their own situations.”

PC Lindsay Sweetman and PCSO Sarah Bebb of the Neighbourhood Policing Team invited the shopkeepers to the meeting to explain how they will be provided with photographs of offenders to help them in the identification process if they agree to take part.