STORES on a top London high street have imposed a “locked door” policy because of rampant shoplifting.
Customers must knock to get staff to let them in to some businesses on the Strand in the West End.
1
Posh women’s clothes store Jigsaw has put up a notice warning shoppers they will have to wait to be allowed in.
It reads: “We are operating a locked door policy. Please knock and a member of staff will be with you shortly.”
It adopted the idea from an O2 shop across the road.
The phone retailer trialled the scheme after robberies in St Albans, Herts, before extending it to London.
A source said: “The Strand is one of London’s busiest shopping streets and it’s shocking that store managers are having to introduce this last-resort measure.”
Shoplifting has soared 48 per cent in the capital in a year and costs firms £9.2million a month in lost goods.
There were almost 90,000 offences recorded last year — roughly 250 a day.
Tory City Hall leader Susan Hill said: “This is Mayor Sadiq Khan’s lawless London.
“What message does this give to tourists? It basically says the city is closed.
“The Mayor hasn’t stood up for shops. It’s damaging London.”
