A Marks & Spencer employee suffered minor injuries after being mowed down by a suspected thief attempting to escape on an e-bike. The incident occurred at a Giltbrook M&S branch when a man rode an e-bike into the store, took approximately £200 worth of children's clothing, and tried to leave without paying.
When a shop worker attempted to block the exit, the suspect rode the e-bike directly into the employee, knocking him to the ground and dragging him a short distance before fleeing. The worker was able to stop the rider, and the stolen goods were recovered. The suspect was later apprehended by police in Eastwood.
Nottinghamshire Police arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of robbery. PC Luke Cutts stated that the use of violence and aggression during the incident led to the charge being robbery rather than simple shop theft. "It really should go without saying but nobody should ever be subjected to something like this when they're just trying to do their job," PC Cutts commented. "This type of behaviour will never be viewed as anything other than completely unacceptable, so we're pleased to have made this arrest."
The incident highlights a concerning trend in retail crime. Official statistics show a 10 percent year-on-year increase in recorded robberies, reaching its highest level since before the pandemic. Robberies of businesses specifically saw a significant surge of 67 percent, setting a new record. The Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) suggests this rise may reflect an increase in the violence used by shoplifters, leading to more incidents being recorded as robberies.
"We are extremely concerned about the changing nature of theft against retailers," said ACS chief executive Ed Woodall. "Offenders are becoming more confident, more brazen and ultimately more violent in their crimes."