Shop tells customers not to wear face masks as owner fears thieves will take advantage

A convenience shop owner has told customers not to wear a face mask as he fears shoplifters and robbers will take advantage of the situation.

The owner of the Nisa shop, in Danesmoor, Derbs, has put up a sign in the windows saying: “For security reasons, pls do not cover your face or head in this shop.”

Explaining the reason behind the notice, the owner said: “I am allowing people to wear masks – maybe I’ve worded the sign badly – but we get a lot of shoplifting and if they’ve got a mask on, I can’t prosecute them.

“What if someone comes in with a knife and threatens my staff, but they’re wearing a mask? What am I meant to do? If someone’s wearing a hood, I ask them to take it down.

“No-one seems to have thought of the security of people working in shops in all this. We do get shoplifting here and, on the last occasion, the guy was wearing a mask.

“Am I meant to just keep losing money? I’ve now been made to feel like the criminal.”

Since July 24, face coverings have been mandatory in shops and supermarkets after the British Government brought in new regulations to try and curb the spread of coronavirus.

The shop owner gave his opinions on masks saying: “We should’ve been wearing them from the start, but only now, after the horse has bolted, have the new rules come in.”

They added: “If people want to wear a mask or face covering for health or religious reasons, then that’s not a problem; I’ll be changing the wording of the sign to reflect that.

“When I’ve told people wearing a mask they don’t need to, they generally say ‘good’ and take it off. I think a lot of people are more worried about getting fined than catching the virus.”

According to Government regulations, people found flouting the masks rules could face a fine of £100 reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked Police Forces to have more of a presence to enforce the regulations.