Inside a menswear boutique in an affluent west London neighbourhood, shoppers admire madras shirts and slim-cut jeans under the watchful gaze of the manager.
LA Menswear, just off Chiswick High Road, is one of several businesses that have been targeted by thieves in recent weeks. Independent stores and chain brands have been hit by a wave of pickpocketing, burglary and shoplifters.
Whistles, the women’s contemporary fashion brand, recently posted a sign in its window alerting customers that it was open but “operating a locked door policy”.
However, it is understood the brand does not operate a specific closed door policy in line with theft management.
The community of shopowners described being vigilant over a small number of well-known drug addicts who have stalked their outlets
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/london-shopowners-lock-doors-as-shoplifting-epidemic-builds-rzswm8b0s
