Bristol teen's memorial march ends in shoplifting spree
Scores of people taking part in the walk for Troy Atkinson stole hundreds of pounds of sweets and drinks from a Bedminster shop.
Steven Metcalf says up to 50 of the marchers, some wearing RIP Troy T-shirts, walked into his Spar shop and helped themselves.
He said his assistants could do nothing to stop them as they walked out of the door with drinks, sweets, crisps and chocolates.
The incident happened as more than 300 people wound their way from Castle Gate where 15-year-old Troy was knocked down to his Hartcliffe home.
He died later in Frenchay Hospital. The march was held to help raise money for his funeral.
Mr Metcalfe, 33, who runs the Spar shop in Parson Street, said: "At least 50 people from the march came in, many of them wearing RIP Troy T-shirts and started taking things. It's absolutely disgusting.
"There was a very good reason behind the walk and it is unbelievable that people would do this. The staff had no chance of stopping them."
He said they took sweets, boxes of pick and mix, soft drinks, crisps and chocolate worth more than £300.
Mr Metcalfe was at his mum's house in Hartcliffe Way when the incident happened but returned to the shop straight away.
The incident was caught on the shop's CCTV.
One boy wearing a lime green jumper can be seen taking a bottle of Blackthorn cider.
Another boy wearing a dark jacket and a blue T-shirt was caught on camera taking a large box of pick and mix sweets.
And a third boy with blonde hair and wearing a yellow scarf can be seen stuffing something down the front of his trousers.
A 19-year-old shop assistant, who saw the thefts, said a man from the walk came in carrying a bucket and asked for donations.
The two members of staff said they had no money on them and couldn't take any from the till.
She said: "Then a lot of people came in. There were at least 50 who came in over five to 10 minutes. Two or three people paid for stuff but a lot were just taking things.
"The supervisor went to shut the door but she was pushed out of the way. I was so scared."
Amongst the stock stolen was a swiss roll; ice lollies; seven cans of Fosters lager; a bottle of Stella Artois; a bottle of Blackthorn; a bottle of Budweiser; two bottles of water; two cans of Cola; toilet rolls; tins of spaghetti; boxes of cakes; milkshakes and Pringles.
Mr Metcalfe, who started helping out in the shop when he was 13, built the business up and bought it from Spar four years ago.
Sarah Veale, 19, of Hartcliffe who with 15-year-old Sophie Williams organised the walk in Troy's memory, said she was shocked that people had shoplifted on such an occasion.
Ms Veale said: "I am very disappointed that after such a great turn-out, a few had to spoil it with what they have done. If I can identify the people who have done this, I will encourage them to apologise."
Avon and Somerset police spokesman Steve Game said: "I can confirm that police are investigating an allegation of shoplifting at the Spar store in Parson Street. It appears that people in the procession, or following the procession, were involved."
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by Amused, St Andrews
Sunday, May 24 2009, 1:08PM
“** I have never in my whole life seen such bad spelling and grammer, I would think by the maturity or should I say lack of maturity that they were school age, do they not have English lessons any more at school. You are both trying to be witty but you are making yourselves look like Vicky Pollard! **
Surely your joking, right?
Its spelt grammar. How can you comment saying people dont have english lessons when you clearly also cannot spell.”
by paul, hartcliffe
Sunday, May 10 2009, 7:40PM
“i cannot believe the ignorance of some people writing in this forum, i myself work in close contact with the police and courts in various parts of bristol, and i would just like to add ,contrary to many comments i have dealings with offenders from various parts of bristol including CLIFTON , REDLAND and even WESTBURY ON TRYM ,AND HENLEAZE , also various ares of BATH . my point being that criminals live in all areas not just council estates. and as i say i work in close contact with the police which requires obtaining an enhanced crb check and police vetting ,and to push my point even further i live in hartcliffe and own my own house so please dont assume you know all there is to know about hartcliffe and the people who live there ,who also work hard to make it a good commmunity”
by maggie, hartcliffe
Saturday, May 09 2009, 12:55PM
“and before you comment on my spelling mistake , i do know i made a mistake unlike you with your comment about people on council estates ,as there isnt any in kingsdown this woman isnt oneof us”
by maggie, hartcliffe
Saturday, May 09 2009, 12:51PM
“GILES ,try reading the paper before you make comments like yours ,you will find on the front page details of the women who knocked down and killed an 11 tear old boy ,who hasnt come forward ,and correct me if im wrong as im sure you will; but she lives in KINSDOWN isnt that near where you live, so it looks like not only are some people from your side of bristol arent that nice either but they are also cowards,”
by maggie, hartcliffe
Saturday, May 09 2009, 12:00PM
“i was refering to the mark that has little manners and even less respect for other people , he must know which one he is ,and what i said was gurt was not in my language, and viscount read the words in the messages they are more important than the punctuations ,”
by Katie Bird, Withwyood
Saturday, May 09 2009, 9:53AM
“That was'nt supposed to post twice.”
by Katie Bird, Withywood
Saturday, May 09 2009, 9:51AM
“Yes, admittedly this is a shocking story and the theifs will be dealt with accordingly but who do you think you are? I am an 18 year old girl who volunteers at a youth club in the midst of Hartcliffe and i for one can proudly say i love it. The children i work with have amazing potential, there lovely to be around and certainly not inbreds! your comments are ridiculous. Have you ever actually spent time in Hartcliffe? obviously not. I no this by your pathetic comments. What about the good we do in our area? We have members in our community who stand on the youth parliament making decisions on what happens to kids, not only in our area but in the whole region. Plenty of people who have passed through this youth club attend University or are doing amazing things not only for theirself but also for others. Your painting ever one with the same brush! You have just made readers assume every one from Clifton are pig headed snobs, not right is it? The whole reason of why the walk took place is being forgotten. A young boy died tragically and locals were celebrating his life, shop lifting isnt the answer but im 100% sure it wasnt the whole crowd who did the crime just a handful of people. Maybe you should sit back and actually think about what your saying next time, if you ever feel the need to come to Hartcliffe id be more than happy to show you around the good in the area!”
by Katie Bird, Withywood
Saturday, May 09 2009, 9:41AM
“Yes admittedly hartcliffe has a stigma attached to it because of past events but what Steve has failed to comment on is the good that actually takes place in the area. I am an 18 year old girl who works in a youth club situated in the midst of Hartcliffe and i can proudly say i love it. I dont feel threatened, i dont work with inbreds and the children i work with have such potential. We have members of staff here who have grew up in the area who have gone on to do brilliant things such as University and join the youth parliament that represents what happens in our area.So before you start posting your insulting comments i'd sit back and actually think about what your saying. Your painting every person from the area with the same brush. Yes, the theifs are in the wrong and that will be dealt with accordingly but what about those who did the walk for the right reasons? They were out to celebrate the life of a young boy who died tragically. Thanks to your ridiculous comments you have just made every person living in clifton seem stuck up and pathetic, not right is it? so get over yourself or maybe take a trip to hartcliffe because id be more than happy to show you the good things that go on in our area.”
by Mark, Bristol
Friday, May 08 2009, 8:31PM
“Bridie - what?
nobody has said anything about people being glad someone has died.
Really doesnt help that a few people decided to post under my name yesterday and today :/”
by Becky, Totterdown
Friday, May 08 2009, 3:59PM
“I have just read some of these comments. Mark, Bristol you are clearly a VILE human being with no life! Why don't you go and get a job or a hobby as you clearly have too much time on your hands!
You seem to stereotype Hartcliffe, but judging by your comments and what you seem to think about the place I think you would fit in quite well! (This isn't my personally opinion about hartcliffe, I have never experianced any problem with the area or the community) Mark, Bristol seems to think the place is scum but the only scum I see on here is him. Have some respect!”