Fears over shoplifting impact on staff

A shop owner has warned of the distress "brazen" shoplifters cause to workers, after a man tried to make off with a high-value bicycle.

CCTV footage from 9 July appears to show a man entering Palace Cycles in Carlisle, grabbing a bike and attempting to leave with it, before being intercepted by a member of staff.

Mike Lee, who has owned the shop on Botchergate for 35 years, said while the bike was retrieved, he was most worried about the impact on his team.

"It's very distressing for the members of staff involved", he said. "You don't know how [shoplifters] are going to react."

Cumbria saw 2,466 shoplifting offences in the last financial year, according to data obtained by the BBC.

Lee said stock was also damaged during the summer incident.

"This character was so brazen that when we tried to photograph him, he was quite happy to taunt us - he said 'come on then, get me good side.'"

He said the man was later identified and apprehended by police.

The business owner said he was "rugby tackled" in recent weeks by someone attempting to steal his own bike as he locked up the shop.

While he escaped unharmed, he said "you don't know to what level violence will escalate".

"You can't have people going to work and expecting that sort of intimidation and distress in their normal hard-working lives," he added.

Lee believes shoplifting tends to happen in "clusters", with particular areas targeted for short periods of time. While he said shoplifting has always been a problem, he has noticed a trend in more expensive items being taken.

"I think every shopkeeper has some sort of history with this sort of stuff," he said.

"It's part of the culture if you're a shopkeeper."

Assaulting a shop worker is now a standalone criminal offence under the new Crime and Policing Act 2026.

Lee said he welcomed the change and hoped it would be enforced.

Cumbria Police said its officers work "all-year round" to prevent theft and catch offenders, adding shoplifting "is not a victimless crime".

"[Shoplifting] hits businesses, which contribute to the Cumbrian economy and provide jobs," a spokesperson added.

The force encouraged shops to contact police to report all incidents of theft, and to call 999 if a crime is in progress.

"The more accurate the information we have for offending in a local area, the more intelligence we have to ensure we resource areas appropriately," it added.

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