Cybercandy sweetshop hit by shoplifters is forced to ban children

Published: 11 June, 2010
by JOSH LOEB

AN international sweetshop has been forced to ban children who are unaccompied by adult after being hit by shoplifters.

Cybercandy on Upper Street, a specialist shop which sells “retro” sweets as well as chocolates from around the world, says it has experienced a number of incidents with children taking goods and being abusive to staff since it opened just over a month ago.

Margaret Morrison, manager of Cybercandy Ltd, said a “blanket ban” had been imposed to deal with criminality in the shop. 

She said: “I think it is only fair on both staff and children that we have a blanket ban because if we give staff discretion to let in ‘good’ kids then that puts them in the position of having to decide which kids look like trouble – which can be a more serious problem leading to accusations of discrimination and unfairness.”

But parent Mandy Stong has criticised the decision, saying most children are not shoplifters. In a letter to the Tribune, she wrote: “Think of the kids. Most of them are really OK and will not run out with armfuls of Black Jacks.” 

The shop’s owners will speak to police this week about the shoplifting problem, which is understood to affect many businesses in the Angel area.

Ms Morrison added: “We certainly hope to maintain a good atmosphere in store, and I intend to continue to address the best way of dealing with the situation, but at this moment that includes a no unaccom­panied children policy. 

“Sadly this will affect the responsible young people out shopping with their friends as well as the groups of kids who come in with the intention of stealing. We are a very popular destination for families and even in our Covent Garden branch for school trips, we have recently hosted a class trip by arrangement, and were delighted to do so.”