Bristol shopkeeper - travellers use their kids to steal

A Bristol dress shop owner fears she could be put out of business by "travellers" who use their children to help them steal.

Susanne Lawson, who owns Lady Chique in Horfield, says she is being targeted by families of thieves who regularly take valuable items.

She says thousands of pounds of dresses and clothes have gone missing from her shop over the last few years and in the last month her business has been hit several more times.

Last Friday afternoon, a family of four with Irish accents went into the shop on Gloucester Road. The mother tried on a gown and a man, presumed to be her partner or husband, went to the till and tried to pay for a different dress.

But the cash card he used had no chip in it and while he distracted Mrs Lawson, the woman and a girl aged about four left the shop with a dress worth £350.

It was a full-length, size-12 white gown with a tight bodice, lace, mother-of-pearl beads and sequins, made by Champagne fashions. Mrs Lawson also discovered a £120 blue silk top had also vanished.

She said: "It happens all the time and I'm sick of it."

Mrs Lawson, 57, who suffers from severe arthritis added: "I'm thinking of putting up a sign on the door saying 'no travellers'. I might be targeted again for speaking out but I don't care, I've had enough. Travellers are not welcome in my shop.

Mrs Lawson has already put a notice on her shop door saying: "We have been targeted by a certain element. These people have stolen from us for the last time.

"This store will only be open to socially acceptable people not those who expect normal people to pay for their existence."

The last theft happened just before 3pm on Friday afternoon. The woman said the dress was for her sister's wedding.

"When I was at the till I saw her bend down, give something to the girl and she screwed it up tight.

"It's really upsetting. I'm struggling as it is and I cannot afford to let these dresses go. They are putting me out of business.

"The people who do this are very sneaky. They have no social graces and no conscience. They send their kids in to steal.

"I just wish they would stay away. I've got very bad arthritis so there's very little I can do."

In April, two identical, fuchsia pink gowns worth £229 each were stolen in the same week. And about two months ago a £70 corset was taken.

Mrs Lawson, who has sold designer wear for special occasions from the shop for 15 years, said: "Four of them came in that day and the lady did actually buy a dress but one of the girls with her stole the corset.

"I had some contact details so I rang her up and said if you get the girl to bring the corset back I won't take the matter any further. A girl aged about 18 or 19 brought it back and put it on the counter, but travellers came back three days later and it was gone for good."

Mrs Lawson has resorted to keeping the door to her shop locked so customers have to ring the bell, and is going to get CCTV cameras installed.

The woman who stole the dress on Friday was quite large, wore short denim shorts, a white T-shirt, and had black hair with blonde roots. She was about 5ft 6in tall.

The man had short, mousy brown hair, weighed about 18 or 19 stone and was about 5ft 9in tall.

Avon and Somerset police are investigating. Anyone who can help catch the culprits should call the police on 0845 4567000, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.