ANOTHER business in West Bay has raised concerns about what they believe is a rise in shoplifting this year.

Staff at the Spar on West Bay Road have told the News that shoplifting has "definitely" become a bigger problem in 2023.

It comes after the owners of West Bay shop Harbour Gifts had to re-fit their entire shop after shoplifters were reportedly taking items "two or three times a week."

Ice cream kiosk Baboo Gelato also had their tip jar stolen from the front window.

Dorset Police however said they have only received one report of shoplifting in the summer in West Bay - which means businesses are not reporting every incident for whatever reason.

Lee Hutchings, Designated Team Leader at Spar in West Bay is concerned that shoplifters are stealing from shops in the middle of the day.

He said: "It has definitely got worse in the past year.

"We have had two incidents recently of people trying to steal items from the shop and both were in broad daylight.

"That makes it worse because it shows that they just don't care anymore.

"For staff it is frustrating, we can't restrain anyone unless we physically see them take something, we don't know what people have in their pockets.

"We can't do anything about it and if we do then it leads to confrontation."

He added: "I don't understand why people would do this to local businesses.

"For us stock goes missing and we have to justify that to company management, they come and investigate staff to make sure we aren't taking anything and it is not good for staff morale."

Dorset Police said they have only received one report of shoplifting in the summer months in West Bay.

Sergeant Mike Brown, of Bridport police, said: “Our figures show we have an extremely small number of reports of shoplifting in West Bay, with just one matter reported to police over the summer months.

“Nevertheless, we fully understand the impact that shoplifting can have on our local businesses and we are fully committed to working with the retail sector to tackle this issue.

“We do have had a number of successful convictions of shoplifters, but we are not complacent and we will continue to also use all powers available to us in order to deter those who persistently cause issues to shopkeepers.

“We share information and advise businesses, with crime prevention experts talking to retailers about how they can take preventive measures to minimise the risk of shoplifting and increase the chances of offenders being caught."

Mr Hutchings added: "We haven't felt the need to report it to police, most of the time their [the shoplifters'] friends make them pay up anyway.

"But we can only hold someone for half an hour and if the police don't come in that time we would have to let them go.

"But police are so undermanned it is hard for them to do anything.

"90% of them get away with it, which is frustrating for staff because we work all these hours in the shop and we cannot stop everyone."