Shocking Robbery at JD Sports Store in St Albans
In a startling incident, a group of looters raided a JD Sports store in St Albans, Hertfordshire, leaving bystanders stunned. The thieves made off with piles of clothing, while the shop assistant desperately tried to intervene.
Video footage captured during the robbery shows what appears to be four men in different areas of the store swiftly grabbing whatever they could. The suspected targeted attack set off alarms, drawing the attention of everyone present.
As more JD staff members became aware of the situation, the thieves, all wearing Covid-19 face masks, decided to make a hasty exit. In their attempt to flee, a store assistant courageously tried to stop two of the men.
Hertfordshire Police were subsequently called to the scene to restore order. The shocking clip was later shared on Twitter, inciting outrage among users.
One individual commented on the audacity of the thieves, saying, “Imagine risking jail time for a bunch of tracky bottoms.” Another pointed out the lack of fear for the law, stating, “The biggest problem the country has at the moment is no fear of the law.” A third person humorously remarked, “It’s the boldness for me… just Covid-19 face masks are now a vital tool for robbery.”
This incident follows a surge in shoplifting, with grocery giant Co-op reporting the highest levels of theft in its history, averaging 1,000 attacks each day over the past six months. Attacks on store employees have also increased, with assaults up nearly 30 percent and a 20 percent rise in anti-social behavior and verbal abuse.
In another recent incident, armed robbers wielding machetes targeted the Flannels store on Vicar Lane in Leeds. The criminals can be seen chasing after a store worker who appears to be defending a bulky bag, resulting in a confrontation with an employee.
Such incidents serve as stark reminders of the challenges faced by retailers and the broader issue of rising crime rates in some areas.