In a night-time raid a gang of thugs destroyed a Sainsbury’s shop front in south London as retailers come under enormous pressure amid fears of coronavirus.
Last night six people attempted to rob booze from the Elephant and Castle store-becoming violent when approached by workers.
Police said the men were approached by Sainsbury’s employees, who became’ hostile and aggressive’ and fled outside before destroying the front of the shop.
And one of the men then catapulted a sign through the supermarket’s glass doors amid the chaos.
Footage shows glass covering the street after the dramatic scenes on New Kent Road just before 11 pm last night.
Met Police confirmed that four men had been arrested following the drama on suspicion of theft and criminal injury.
A spokesperson said: “Management had confirmed that six people had entered the store and tried to conceal spirits in their clothing.” The people were violent and intimidating when approached by workers.
“As the group left one of them, they picked up a sign outside the store and smashed a window.” Four people, aged 20, 21, 21 and 22, were arrested near the scene on suspicion of robbery and malicious injury.
A spokeswoman for Sainsbury said: “Our Sainsbury’s Elephant & Castle store is open and we are supporting the police with their inquiries.” Retailers have been put under tremendous pressure as customers who are afraid the country will be put on a full freeze stock pile.
Shoppers were photographed brawling over toilet paper and booze as panic set in.
Such horrific scenes come as UK retailers come under increasing strain from stockpiling customers amid fears of self-isolation.
Thousands of shoppers stacked up outside stores before today’s doors opened after retailers introduced rationing measures to address with a hysteria-buying spike.
Retailers also emphasized that the supply chain provides plenty of food, but shoppers need to behave carefully to ensure that everybody can have whatever they want-particularly the elderly and perhaps most insecure who might find daily shopping as challenging.
Yesterday, Sainsbury’s announced it would limit sales of every item in its stores as it tries to stamp out panic buying.
Customers will be able to buy a maximum of three of any grocery item and two of the most popular products, such as toilet paper, soap and UHT milk.
The city might be days away from complete shutdown after Boris Johnson declined to rule out’ further and quicker’ steps to combat the coronavirus yesterday.
The Prime Minister announced that it was appropriate to’ ruthlessly’ implement the so-called social distancing steps-such as working from home and avoiding social events in bars, cinemas, theaters and restaurants.