This was the moment an alleged shoplifter was caught on camera brazenly stealing cheese from a local store. A customer took the video because they couldn’t believe what they were seeing – a hooded thief frantically throwing blocks of cheese into a rucksack.
They warned people not to busy any “ill-gotten blocks of cheese” after witnessing the alleged crime at the Co-op on King’s Road, Pontcanna, Cardiff. The incident is reported to have happened around 3.40pm on Sunday, December 29,
The customer who took the video said: “There were only two staff in the shop. One did ask the man if he was going to pay but he just walked out. They said they weren’t given security staff anymore, and they weren’t going to risk their lives for some packets of Coop cheese, which I thought was sensible. Get the latest Welsh headlines delivered free to your email inbox
“It’s company policy not to have their staff apprehend people, which is a safer approach I think. I was totally shocked though. Apparently a customer got into a fight with a shoplifter recently.”
The Co-op has been approached for comment and police have confirmed that they are investigating the report of shoplifting and an assault
A spokesperson said: ““South Wales Police were called at 7:50pm on Sunday December 29, to a report of shoplifting and assault at the Co-op in Pontcanna. No arrests have been made and investigations are continuing.”
Shoplifting offences reported by police in England and Wales rose to a fresh 20-year high during 2024, according to official figures. It lead to retailers warning about violence to shop workers.
A total of 469,788 offences were logged by police forces in the year to June 2024, a 29% increase compared with the 365,173 recorded in the previous 12-month period.