Overview

• Owner Wayne Jarvis says five shoplifters were caught on CCTV in a single week at Fifty Scents, which opened in April.
• Hundreds of pounds of stock have been taken, including more than 15 novelty ducks priced around £7–£7.99, plus bath bombs, candles and chocolate.
• Jarvis posts CCTV clips on Facebook to identify suspects and says many later return to pay or hand items back.
• He describes thefts as a “free‑for‑all” involving people of varied ages and backgrounds, and argues lenient outcomes have encouraged offending.
• West Mercia Police say Worcester city-centre teams are increasing visibility with uniform and plain-clothes patrols, using community resolutions or court action as cases warrant, while national ONS data show theft offences up 29% year on year to 469,788 in the year to June 2024.