I was a shoplifter who stole £3million worth of items – here’s how shops can stop themselves being targeted
A SHOPLIFTER who claims he pinched £3million worth of items says it’s too easy for thieves to steal — and shops should toughen up to stop it.
Recovered heroin addict Cullan Mais, 32, used to steal £2,000 of items a day at the peak of his criminality — even travelling around the country to do so.
He was jailed ten times over his constant thieving and served a total of three years.
But since a near-death health scare in 2020 he has got clean of drugs and stealing, though he admitted “shoplifting was harder to kick than heroin”.
Cullan, of Cardiff, has been supported by partner Clara, 31, works for a charity helping people with drug addictions and says shops can do more to prevent themselves being targeted.
He said: “If ever a shop had security, I wouldn’t steal from there. I’d simply go to one that didn’t have it – so more shops should have security.”
Cullan said he once stole 19 bottles of spirits in one go and warned booze in a prominent spot was a bad idea.
He said: “Stop putting alcohol on shop floors — if there’s alcohol there it will be nicked.”
Putting tills close to the exit of shops and placing high valuable goods in empty boxes are other deterrents that he recommends.