A SHOPKEEPER is being plagued by teenage gangs who crowd his shop and steal from him in broad daylight.

On one occasion Umran Mahmood was forced to carry out a citizen’s arrest after running after and catching someone who had stolen a mobile phone from him.

West Yorkshire Police have acknowledged they are concerned about youth “gangs” in the city centre and the Chamber of Trade has said it will contact Mr Mahmood and offer support.

Mr Mahmood was born and brought up in Bradford and has worked in the city since 1999. But he claims Bradford is becoming ‘lawless’ and that he doesn’t feel secure in his own shop after being targeted three times in the past two and a half months.

For 11 years he was a manager for a mobile phone shop in Kirkgate market and decided to open his own outlet earlier this year selling mobile phones and e-cigarette and vaping items.

But his ‘I’m Droid’ shop, in James Street, has been plagued by groups of teenagers, some looking as young as 13 or 14, storming his shop and stealing items.

They have ignored his requests to leave.

He recorded the latest incident on a CCTV camera and has passed on the information to the police who say they are making inquiries.

“I have had three incidents in the last two and a half months,” he said. “On two occasions there were thefts and on another they left my shop but stole something from another.

“It’s not the amount of money I have lost because it’s relatively small, it’s the fact it’s happening. I want the police to do something. Even having more police on the beat will help deter these gangs. As I see it, this is only going to get worse and even resort to violence if they continue to get away with it.

“I have reported the thefts to the police and provided CCTV footage but it seems there is not a lot can be done.

“On one of the occasions a group came in and one of them asked to look at a £280 mobile phone. He then grabbed it and ran. I ran after him and because I am a marathon runner I caught him. It took me a few streets to catch him because I was wearing normal shoes.

“I did a citizen’s arrest and the police came and took him away.

“On another occasion there must have been 20 of them. They didn’t all come inside and eventually left after taking a few small items.

“My point is someone should do something to prevent it happening bang in the town centre. The city is becoming lawless. Anyone can come as a group and rob small businesses.

“We need to see more police around to deter these gangs and more cameras around the city centre. I just want someone to take this seriously.

“Do these people’s parents not bring them up correctly to know it is wrong to steal from people who are just trying to make a living?”

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police confirmed they were making inquiries.

Superintendent Damien Miller, of Bradford District Police, said: “Local Bradford officers have been conducting inquiries in relation to youth-related ‘gang’ offending in the city centre and are progressing active inquiries regarding a number of identified suspects.

“An 18-year-old man was charged with theft from the shop in relation to an incident involving a single male which occurred at the premises on April 1.

“Officers also attended on May 3 after a call was received about a disturbance in the shop involving some males.

“A theft was recorded after some bottles of vaping liquid were reported missing.

“CCTV stills were supplied by the shopkeeper but unfortunately they were unsuitable for appeal purposes and this crime has been finalised pending further information being received.

“We would ask that anyone with concerns speak to our local officers, so we can work with partner agencies to address these.”

Mary Frame, a member of Bradford Chamber of Trade, said: “This is very concerning.

“We will contact the shopkeeper and offer our support.

“This sort of behaviour puts off potential customers.”

MORE TOP STORIES