Krish Hinglajia, owner of the Premier shop in Delce Road, Rochester, says his store has been targeted four times in a single week, with brazen shoplifting reaching new heights. The 38-year-old reported that a man stole approximately £30 worth of household cleaning supplies on July 17, stuffing items into his backpack and trouser pockets at around 3pm while his father manned the till.
Children target sweets and chocolate
The following thefts involved a group of children, believed not to be local, who entered the shop on July 18 at around 1.30pm and stole chocolate, sweets and ice creams before running out. When confronted, they racially abused staff, according to Hinglajia. The same group returned on July 19 at around 11.30am and repeated the theft, and again on July 21 in a fourth incident.
Hinglajia stated: 'The next day [Sunday, July 19], the same thing happened. It was around 11.30am when the same kids came in and took them again.' He added: 'It's not fair on us – at the moment, it's summer, so ice creams are popular. Our basic principle is to sell them and create a profit. We have lost more than £150 to £200 worth of goods in the last week, particularly on frozen foods, which are really expensive. That has a deep impact on my business because we are a small family-run shop. At the end of the day, if tills are getting low, how are we going to pay our bills?'
Police response questioned
Despite reporting the incidents twice to Kent Police, Hinglajia says officers did not attend, instead providing a crime reference number and directing him to an online portal for investigation. He expressed frustration: 'I did everything from my side – all the formalities, and the cops are doing nothing. We don't need them to patrol everywhere – we know that takes their time and people – but at least respond to our request. We are just losing faith. Why are we paying council tax that goes towards funding the police if we are not receiving their service? Why should I suffer? Why should I lose?'
According to police statistics, between June 2025 and May 2026, there were 128 crimes related to shoplifting reported in the area. Hinglajia noted a recent spike in incidents over the last few months and said he feels helpless, stating: 'There's no point. If you put locks and counters on, they're going to nick those locks as well. We just feel there is nothing we can do.'
Kent Police respond
Inspector Paul Relf of Kent Police confirmed the force is investigating reports of multiple thefts by a group of children at the shop between July 17 and 21. He said: 'When the business owner reported the incidents, he was requested to submit relevant CCTV footage via an online portal to assist identifying the suspects. Officers have since visited the store, spoken to the victim and enquiries are underway in the local area. We are determined to tackle retail crime in Medway and will pursue all available lines of enquiry to track down offenders and bring them to justice.'
