Bristol teen's memorial march ends in shoplifting spree
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."
Comment on this story