Latest news with #MarkOram
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Much-loved pet shop forced to close after more than 60 years ‘amid cost pressures'
Another store may open in a different town SHUTTERS DOWN Much-loved pet shop forced to close after more than 60 years 'amid cost pressures' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BELOVED family-owned pet shop has been forced to shut down after 66 years of business, due to "cost pressures". Dabners pet shop in Croydon is set to close for the last time on Saturday, August 16. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Owner Mark Oram, 61, has worked at the pet shop for 40 years Credit: BPM It first opened on Surrey Street in 1959, and was inherited by Mark who took over the business from his father. Rising costs and decreasing footfall to the store has lead to the store shutting down, which Mark says was exacerbated by the government's autumn budget last year. In one month, Dabners experienced a 30 per cent fall in customers walking through its doors, the greatest drop the store has seen in the 40 years Mark has worked there. He said to BPM Media: 'It's so sad and very disheartening. 'I've worked on this my whole life and to see it go down this way is horrible." With the closure, Mark is now looking to open up another pet shop, likely out of Croydon town centre. Rampant crime and antisocial behaviour in the area has made him concerned about continuing business in the area. The pet shop owner is therefore looking to set up another store in Horsham, West Sussex. Mark told MyLondon: 'Croydon feels a bit lawless. "Shoplifting is worse than ever but we're not getting any support. Pet owners race to B&M for hilariously-named designer doggie accessories, including Poochie Vuitton and Furrsace Last year, the businessowner had a knife pulled on him in the middle of Surrey Street as he tried to stop a shoplifter from stealing a dog harness. Despite allegedly capturing the incident on video by a member of the public, Scotland Yard claimed they did not have enough evidence to prosecute the suspect. Mark added: "If we catch one [shoplifter] we're just told to email the police who never do much about it." The Metropolitan Police in response have said they are focusing on the most profilic offenders. They also contend that shoplifting in Croydon town centre has dropped by 31 per cent over the past six months. Metropolitan Police's neighbourhood policing lead for Croydon, Superintendent Mitch Carr, added: "Croydon is one of 20 town centres and high streets across London that will see enhanced police and partner activity this summer. "There will be increased police patrols, intelligence-led plain-clothed operations in hotspot areas, and officers will relentlessly target wanted and prolific offenders who commit offences, particularly shoplifting and anti-social behaviour." Mark also thinks Croydon Council could do more to support independent traders, and return the area a top shopping location. He said: 'Ten years ago people used to travel here from other areas, now we're only serving locals - and some of them even go to Bromley or other parts of South London for better shops." Croydon Council has described the closure of Dabners "disappointing", and recognised the contribution it has made to the community over the past six decades. A spokesperson from the council said: "We understand these are challenging times for retailers nationally, particularly independent businesses. "That's why Croydon Council continues to deliver a range of business support programmes, funded by external grants." They have planned to invest £4.4 million into an "Amplifying Surrey Street programme" which hopes to improve market infrastructure and greenery in the area, as well as deliver a programme of events that can help drive footfall.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Yahoo
Croydon high street in chaos as teens repeatedly shoplift with one even 'throwing a lit firework into store'
Croydon teenagers have been causing so much mayhem in the town centre that police have been forced to bring in special dispersal powers. The chaos has left local businesses and residents distressed, with one instance even seeing a 'lit firework' thrown into a store, MyLondon was told. A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police team working around Croydon said on X that this was due to a 'group of school-aged teenagers' that have 'been repeatedly engaging in shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, and general nuisance in Croydon town centre' A Section 35 Dispersal Zone has been enforced in the Broad Green and Fairfield Wards from 1pm yesterday until 9pm this evening (Friday, March 7). This allows police to exclude a person from an area for a period of up to 48 hours. A child aged 16 or under can be removed and taken to their home or another place of safety. READ MORE: The unlikely neighbourhood named London's 'coolest' place to live in 2025 READ MORE: Abbey Wood teenager organised 'exceptionally violent' kidnapping in bid to steal £77k One local business owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, told MyLondon: 'We did have one instance where someone threw a lit firework into our store. I don't know what they thought would happen.' Dispersal Notice Section 35 Dispersal Zone - Authorised by Inspector Holliday Start: 06/03/2025 at 13:00 HoursEnd: 07/03/2025 at 21:00 HoursThis is for: Broad Green Ward and Fairfield Ward — South Area - Croydon MPS (@MPSCroydon) March 7, 2025 They also said that there had also been instances of teenagers waving lit fireworks around market sellers in the area. They said that things have improved recently due to a larger police presence, but they still have to remain vigilant. 'Whenever there's a group of students that come in we have to be extra attentive, I wish this wasn't the case because they're students.' Another business owner told MyLondon that they had struggled with antisocial behaviour in their store. They said: 'We've got problems. Sometimes five or six teenagers come in and take the stuff without paying, making trouble. 'Last time when I told them to get out one of them had a can of Coke and they threw it into the shop so it was all messy. The coke got everywhere.' Mark Oram, who works at Dabners Pet Store, told MyLondon that while he hadn't experienced issues with school-age children, antisocial behaviour in the area was still a huge problem. 'We've got a lot of drunks and drug addicts,' he said. 'It's lawless, absolutely lawless. There's so much crime which you don't even hear about. Stabbings are by the hour.' The Section 35 Dispersal Order Zone, authorised by Inspector Holliday, gives police powers to take immediate action to prevent further issues and maintain safety in the area. The statement on the South Area Croydon MPS X account says: 'The order is being used because a group of school-aged teenagers has been repeatedly engaging in shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, and general nuisance in Croydon Town Centre. Their actions are disrupting businesses and causing distress to the public. 'By issuing a Section 35 order, the police can take immediate action to prevent further issues and maintain safety in the area.' Got a story? Please get in touch at Stay updated on the top South London stories. Sign up to our MySouthLondon newsletter HERE for the latest daily news and more.
