WHSmith, Tesco Express and Marks & Spencer in Bishop's Stortford targeted by thieves
A man stole scratchcards and tobacco from WHSmith in Bishop's Stortford while the tills were unmanned.
The South Street retailer was targeted last Tuesday (Feb 23) at around 3.15pm. A white man in his mid 30s loitered near the tills and waited for staff to leave them unattended.
He got his chance and grabbed National Lottery cards before staff returned. He waited for two further opportunities to take more scratchcards and tobacco.
Police are treating the incident as a burglary because the thief went into an area of the shop which is out of bounds to the public.
He was around 5ft 8in, wore dark jeans, beige jumper, black jacket, white trainers and beige baseball cap.
Meanwhile, Tesco Express was targeted by shoplifters three times in the space of two days last week.
On Monday (Feb 22), meat worth £76 was stolen by a white man wearing a hoodie and face mask. On Wednesday (Feb 24) at around 8.15pm, a thief stole around £150 of ready meals, meat, chocolate and coffee. Just over an hour later, a man stole nine bottles of wine worth £76.50.
On Sunday afternoon (Feb 21), a white woman with blonde hair and around 5ft 8in tall stole £120 of men's underwear from Marks & Spencer.