O2 phone shops in high risk areas locking their doors after spate of armed robberies by crime gangs
O2 has confirmed a 'locked door' policy is now in place at a number of high street stores across the country in response to the terrifying raids - including Richmond in south-west London, The Strand in central London and St Albans, Herts.
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O2 has confirmed a 'locked door' policy is now in place at a number of high street stores across the country
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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The move is in response to the terrifying raids - including Richmond in south-west London, The Strand in central London and St Albans, Herts
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
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Instead of just walking into the shops, customers now have to knock on the door and be let in by a security guard
Credit: Andrew Styczynski
Instead of just walking into the shops, customers now have to knock on the door and be let in by a security guard.
The Sun found staff at the shop in St Albans on Friday were operating a one in one out system, only allowing up to three members of the public in at a time.
According to a source, they were forced to bring in these measures after two terrifying robberies which left staff members fearing for their lives.
They said: 'At the end of February we had an attempted robbery. Three guys came in and tried to force their way into the store room.
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'I saw them, all with their faces covered, out of the corner of my eye and I thought I was done for.
'We suspected they had a weapon and they were trying to force staff back there to open the door - the police came that time and they didn't manage to take anything.
'A few months before in October the shop was actually robbed, they took thousands of pounds worth of phones.
'There were two customers in the shop at the time, and because of the threats and the suspected weapon it was decided that the door would be locked.
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'No one should come into work and be scared they're going to be stabbed over a phone - no one wants to lose their life over just a phone.
'It has affected trade a little, but you know now all the people coming in have the intention to buy and it makes staff feel safer while helping them so I think it's worth it.'
Moment phone snatcher receives instant karma as he's knocked off his bike by furious Londoners
In May, the O2 shop in Richmond was targeted by two armed men, with one swiftly arrested by police.
Just a few months before in February, the same shop was raided by armed thieves who forced staff into the store room and made off with a number of mobiles.
An O2 spokesperson said: 'In response to a growing number of thefts at stores in certain areas, we have introduced a 'locked door' policy at a small proportion of our stores, including in St Albans.
'These stores remain fully open for our customers, and the only difference they will experience is that instead of opening the door themselves, it will be opened for them by a security guard.
'This decision has been taken to prioritise the safety of both our employees and our customers, as well as the security of our stock.
'We are working closely with law enforcement, and with other providers who are facing similar issues, to tackle this problem.'
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The court heard that the two men trafficked a 15-year-old boy from Bedfordshire to Lowestoft in Suffolk, where officers found the boy with £3,000 worth of crack cocaine. Saving the 'lost boys' 12 Jamal Andall (right) and his fellow drug dealer Alex Anderson (left), both 30, became the first members of a county lines gang to be convicted of modern slavery offences by Bedfordshire Police 12 Class A drugs were found on the teenager exploited by Andall and Anderson Credit: Bedfordshire Police 12 Incriminating texts found on a phone in Andall's home helped nail him Credit: Bedfordshire Police Gary, though, says that 'there is always someone higher up', and that dealers keep finding new recruits. He says: 'They go to schools and care homes to slip them some cannabis and form a relationship with them. 'They might give you a top up for your phone, you'll think it's free, but nothing is free, there is going to be a pay day for that. 'They pull them into what is an organised crime group." 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The lad who jumped out of the window was lucky - he might not be so fortunate next time. 24 Hours in Police Custody: Lost Boys, stream or watch live on Channel 4 from July 13 at 9pm. 12 Gavin kept going missing Credit: Channel 4 12 Drugs are ruining young lives Credit: Getty 12 Cannabis plants found during a raid in Luton Credit: Alamy
