Yobbish boys in Sutton Coldfield town centre are causing havoc for shopkeepers, allegedly stealing items and attacking delivery riders as they go about their work. School-age boys were witnessed by a reporter going into Boots on Thursday, May 14, shortly before 5pm. The manager there had barred them as she claimed they had earlier been shoplifting, taking a can of Red Bull.
Despite being told to leave, a couple of the boys continued to enter the shop, taunting staff, picking up items, and being confronted. The Boots manager said she was also unhappy that the boys had abused her staff, mainly young women. Moments later, the group knocked over a delivery rider's motorbike as he went into the neighbouring Taco Bell fast food outlet to collect orders.
Incident Details
A Gracechurch Centre security guard stood by the rider's bike, and a kind member of the public stepped in to protect the bike and ward the boys away. The delivery rider then returned to find his motorbike on the floor. It was picked up, but then the boys kicked the bike several times, agitating the rider. As he went to ride off, they kicked the motorbike again, making it wobble and nearly causing a crash that could have led to injury.
Staff and Security Concerns
BirminghamLive spoke to the Boots manager, who said the issues were a daily occurrence. She said she was not worried about being abused but was not happy her staff were. Police had been called, but when they arrived, the boys scattered. Security guards for the Gracechurch Centre claimed this particular group were repeat offenders. They said the day before, they had been stopped from entering Greggs in the same stretch of the Parade, and when they were, they tried to kick the door in. The guards asked for the police to do more so the boys are aware there are consequences for committing anti-social behaviour and petty crime.
Business Improvement District Response
Michelle Baker, manager of the Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield Business Improvement District, which represents more than 300 town centre businesses, said: “Unfortunately incidents involving retail theft and antisocial behaviour are becoming an increasing challenge for town centres across the UK, and Sutton Coldfield is not immune to these issues. What happened on Thursday was concerning, particularly where local workers and businesses were subjected to intimidation and abuse. These incidents place added pressure on retailers, shopping centre security, and the police, all of whom are working hard in challenging circumstances.
“As a Business Improvement District, we believe town centre safety requires a joined-up approach. Effective CCTV coverage, monitored cameras, visible security presence, proactive policing, and consistent reporting of incidents all play an important role in helping deter crime and antisocial behaviour. We have been proactive in seeking solutions to improve the town centre’s public CCTV infrastructure, and we remain hopeful that progress can be made this year to ensure the security measures are in place to support businesses, visitors, and the wider community.”
Police Statement
West Midlands Police said it was aware of the incident in the town centre. Sutton Coldfield Sergeant Graham Rule, from the Sutton Trinity neighbourhood team, said: “We received a report of an assault taking place on The Parade, Sutton Coldfield, on Thursday, May 14, just before 5pm. An investigation is underway to identify the victim and those responsible, so we would ask anyone who was in the area at the time to get in touch with us by calling 101 and quoting crime number 20/249033/26.
“We’re aware of concerns around anti-social behaviour in the Parade area, and the neighbourhood teams conduct daily patrols in that area and the wider town centre, specifically targeting ASB and those causing a nuisance in our towns. Tackling residents’ concerns remains a priority for us, and I can assure the community we’re working hard to tackle ASB and working with businesses to identify those responsible for committing crime. I would encourage any residents or business owners to please speak to us and report any crimes and concerns. We will follow all lines of enquiry, but it’s important we have as much information as we can to identify those responsible. You can make a report by calling 101 or using the Live Chat option on our website but always dial 999 in an emergency.”
