Teenager steals from Londis in St Anne’s Street, Beccles, before returning to pay for items

Four teenagers stole food from a Suffolk shop yesterday, before one of them returned to pay for the items.

Two girls and two boys took sandwiches and crisps between 3pm and 4pm from the Londis in St Anne’s Road, Beccles, then one of the girls returned about two hours later to pay for them.

One of the boys stole the items while the others distracted the person at the till.

Sandy Kingsman, store manager, said: “We knew they were under 18, so we didn’t want to go and grab them once they’d left the shop.

“We posted on the Beccles Community Facebook page, and after an hour or so people who knew the teenagers started to comment with their names.

“One of the girls from the gang then messaged me to say: ‘I am so sorry for stealing in the shop and I will come and pay for the things I took.’

“I told the girl when she came in that if she ever wants anything urgently, don’t steal it – ask me, and I will give it to you on credit.”

Mr Kingsman, who has run the Londis store for four years, believed the children had stolen alcohol earlier in the day from the Premier convenience store in Rigbourne Hill.

He said stealing food is one thing – but he can’t tolerate stealing alcohol.

In Britain, shop thefts have more than doubled in the past six years, reaching eight million in 2022 – according to a report by The Guardian last week.