Blogger’s Note: Retail Theft and Security Costs are often caused (or exacerbated) by significantly Higher rates of shoplifting (and loss of merchandise) in certain (deprived or underdeveloped) urban locations. Such is the extent of these losses of retail product that owners are prompted to chain (or lock up) products – and take the decision to shut down stores permanently. Although common in the US – this is becoming an ever-increasing reality in the UK – often linked to “race” and “culture” in the mainstream press and right-wing political discourse. The political left blames theiving upon economic deprivation, exclusion, and lack of opportunities – whilst the right blames innate cultural traits and the “presence” of non-White populations in historically “White” areas. Crime tends to be higher in poorer communities of every skin-colour – according to statistics – and is a response to poverty rather than an “innate” cultural habit. Ethnic groups, if economically deprived, tend to be centred in certain (underdeveloped) areas – hence the apparwnt correlation between “ethnicity” and “behaviour”. Crime is in fact just as high in entirely “White” areas of poverty – but the media tends to ignore this reality just in case the government is “forced” to do something about it. As a Buddhist, I believe that the poorer we are – the better we should behave – but when hungry, people are forced into all kinds of anti-social behaviours. Of course, I am not saying UK society is “just” – far from it. I have carried the Red Flag through the streets – risking arrest – in protest of this inequality. Finally, insurance usually prevents retailers sustaining any real financial losses – so these closures must be because the insurance companies refuse to cover the liability due to the extent of the thieving. ACW (13.11.2026)
– by mike urban
Brixton Buzz has been told that the Co-Op store on Coldharbour Lane in Loughborough Junction is set to close soon due to unsustainable levels of shoplifting.
A poster on the Loughborough Junction forum said:
The Co-Op in Loughborough Junction is closing towards the end of this month.
I was chatting to the manager who said this decision had been taken because there was too much ‘leakage’.
By leakage he said that there were now too many thefts that the store was no longer economical.
All the staff will be relocated to other stores.
Other posters commented:
T: This is bad news. I noticed that half the shelves were empty the other day.
I wonder why the coop seems to have worse problems with shoplifting than Nisa across the road.
At first sight, Nisa would seem the easier one to grab stuff and run out the door.
CS: I think there’s just more staff in and around Nisa.
The till is always staffed and then there are consistently people putting stuff out and generally milling around. I also think the bigger windows help.
The Co-Op is chronically understaffed.
If the supermarket’s closure is confirmed, that will leave the branch in Stockwell as the closest one to Brixton.
We’ve written to the Co-op asking for clarification.
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