Perfumery & Co co-owner calls for police and council action after shoplifter steals hundreds of pounds of stock from Lymington High Street store

“THIS is not petty crime to us.” These were the words of a frustrated beauty business co-owner after hundreds of pounds of stock was stolen from its Lymington store.

David McConnachie, who runs Perfumery & Co with partner Anthony Harwood, wants police and New Forest District Council to be more proactive in supporting independent traders hit by retail crime.

Last Thursday, a shoplifter made off with about £400 of Clarins skincare products despite being confronted by staff at the High Street store.

The theft, which took place between 4.15pm and 4.20pm, was the latest of offences committed there and at the other store in Ringwood.

As reported in the A&T, an overnight raider stole a range of men’s and women’s fragrances from the branch at The Furlong in December 2022, just weeks after it launched.

The Lymington branch had around 60 bottles of expensive perfume snatched in a smash-and-grab not long after it opened in summer 2020.

“It breaks our hearts as an independent business when this sort of thing happens,” Mr McConnachie told the A&T after the latest theft.

“There needs to be more support from the council and the police – it took four days for the police to come to the store.

“Lymington has a thriving high street and we’ve sailed through a harder period.

“We should be supporting all businesses. I don’t think that at any business this should be tolerated. There should be repercussions.”

He explained the business had to “swallow the cost” as claiming on insurance would triple its insurance policy.

This had gone up 32% last year despite no claims being made, while the 2022 Ringwood branch raid resulted in a surge of about 60%.

Praising his staff, Mr McConnachie said one of them managed to get some of the stock back when they confronted the offender.

They had also chased the suspect along the High Street in an attempt to retrieve the rest.

“It’s horrible for our staff as well, having to confront these people. It’s just not pleasant,” he continued.

“We’re like a little family. They’re not working for a national business, they’re working for David and Anthony.

“You always have to be so alert. You never know who’s coming through the door.”

Also praising members of the “lovely” community for their support, Mr McConnachie said he did not want the theft to “taint the overall experience”.

But he added: “The magistrates and police need to respond quicker because this is not petty crime to us.”

This comes after police recently announced plans to pilot a collaborative initiative with NFDC to combat shoplifting in Lymington.

Acting Sgt Brown announced this in the wake of concerns raised during a recent beat surgery meeting with residents and traders.

The A&T has attempted to obtain details of what the pilot scheme will entail, but it has been told by an NFDC spokesperson it’s “really early days” and these will be revealed later.

Anyone with information about last Thursday’s theft should contact the force online at hampshire.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting reference 44240371141.

Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously at crimestoppers-uk.org or on 101.