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Shopkeepers' fury over faulty CCTV
TRADERS are furious after discovering three CCTV cameras were out of action the night a robber threatened a newsagent's staff at knifepoint.
The cameras covering Fielding Court shops in Biddick Hall, South Shields, failed to capture the robber loitering around the area for almost
two hours before he raided David's News last Wednesday, threatening a cashier with a knife.
The suspect, who had covered his face with a scarf, escaped with money from the till at about 6.10pm.
A spokesman for South Tyneside Council, which operates the cameras, has confirmed they were not working at the time due to an underground electrical fault.
But the news has sparked fury among the estate's traders.
"We have been told the cameras have been off since last month, it's disgusting," said one shopkeeper, who wished not to be named.
"If the cameras aren't working, what's the point? The idea of having them is to focus on the shops during the evening when we lock up, giving us extra security.
"A colleague told me about the robbery, as I was standing out the back of the shop when it happened.
"There were so many people who saw the robber but no one thought to phone the police.
"If the cameras had been on, surely they would have picked up on him?"
Another shopkeeper added: "These cameras should be working all the time. It's just terrible. They should be working for our protection."
Council chiefs say the fault has now been fixed and all three cameras are fully operational.
The council spokesman added: "The Fielding Court shopping area is covered by three cameras, which have generated eight arrests within the precinct over the past year.
"Unfortunately, they were out of operation for several weeks due to a fault in a three-mile long underground cable.
"Understandably, it took some time to locate the faulty section of the cable and, while it is regrettable that the robbery took place during this period, we would like to reassure people that the fault has now been repaired and the cameras are fully functional once again."
The robber was aged between 16-20, 5ft 8ins, thin, and spoke with a local accent.
He was wearing a black tracksuit with a logo across the front of the hooded jacket.
It is also thought he was wearing gloves and had a coloured scarf wrapped around the lower part of his face.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 03456 043 043 ext 65126 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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Weather for South Shields
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
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