Crime statistics recently released for the Rugby BID area show a dramatic drop in the number of thefts from retail businesses during the last two years. For the 2007-2008 period alone there has been a 54% reduction in this kind of crime following on from a 27% reduction the previous year.

Shops in the town centre are seeing a noticeable difference. The success of the ShopNet Radio Scheme is playing a central role to the reduction of crime in the town centre. All businesses that are part of the scheme are provided training and regular support by the BID team and in particular the Rangers. Kelvin Hunt from Hunts bookshop agrees that ShopNet is important.

“Having direct contact with the BID team through our own radio is invaluable, particularly if staff are ever on their own. It is also a great way of communicating warnings to fellow retailers of incidents that have happened so that we can always be alert.”

Other retailers have also seen a noticeable improvement in the town centre with Kevin Shirt, Manager at Joe Richards Greengrocers commenting, “There has been a massive decrease in the amount of trouble in town, it’s a lot safer and people seem to want to spend more time in the town because of that. We as retailers know that if anything does happen the Rangers are on the ball and can react quickly.”

The Rangers are another key factor to the reduction of shoplifting. “The presence of the Rangers, both in our shops and around the town, is a definite deterrent to any one thinking of shoplifting, they do a good job and give us lots of support,” commented Harry Singh of Pennysaver. Aftab Gaffar, Operations Director at Rugby BID, concludes, “From the state of the art CCTV systems and fully trained operatives to the presence of the Rangers but most importantly by working alongside the businesses in town and Warwickshire Police, Rugby BID has successfully reduced shop theft. It’s a team effort and its great news for our town centre.”