Shopkeeper's Fight Against Shoplifters: Community Help Needed

0:00On April 8th, a shopkeeper in Bathgate, Scotland, named Muhammad Balaal is fighting back against shoplifters by posting CCTV footage online. His London store loses about 20,000 pounds a year to these who grab food, drinks, and alcohol right off the shelves. He says police reports go nowhere, leaving him and his team exposed. These raids have been almost every other day, with crooks not just stealing, but smashing bottles, emptying whole shells into bags, and even breaking, doors and windows. One clip shows a woman stuffing wine bottles into her handbag, another has someone shattering a bottle on the floor in frustration. Balaal reports losing 50 to 100 pounds daily from stolen stock and repairs, which is hitting his family hard. Staff safety is a big worry too. Confronting thieves can turn dangerous, so he's pulling back on stocking shells fully to cut losses. Now he's turning to social media for help, sharing clear footage and hopes local spot repeat offenders, maybe even kids whose families can step in.

1:02It's a desperate move since police aren't following up. With cost of living pressures pushing more thefts, small shops like his are on the brink, but Balaal's call for community eyes might just slow the chaos.