A man has died after being restrained by a vigilante customer when he attacked supermarket staff.
The 52-year-old man attacked staff and became abusive to other customers at the Co-op store in Torpoint, Cornwall on August 6, and was reported to the police.
The 52-year-old man attacked staff and became abusive to other customers at the Co-op store in Torpoint, Cornwall
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A man in his 40s from the Millbrook area has been arrested on suspicion of assault.
He has been bailed until November 1 while enquiries into the deadly incident continue.
The force has appealed for any witnesses who saw the event unfold to come forward and provide any information.
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: “A 52-year-old man has died in hospital following an incident in Torpoint on Wednesday 6 August.
“Police were called at 4.45pm following reports of a disturbance at Co-op Food in Fore Street.
“During the incident the man was restrained by another customer but became unresponsive a short time later.
“The man, from Torpoint, was treated by paramedics and taken to Derriford Hospital.
SUPERMARKET CRIME – LATEST:
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed that the man was rushed to hospital in critical condition, but died on Saturday (file photo)
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DEVON AND CORNWALL POLICE
“Police are continuing their enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact police online or by telephone on 101, quoting log number 696 of August 6, 2025.”
Earlier this year, figures from the British Retail Consortium revealed that retail crime had surged to its highest level on record.
The data showed that incidents of abuse and violence in 2023/24 reached 2,000 incidents per day – four times the level it was in 2020, where there were 455 incidents per day.
The data showed that incidents of abuse and violence in 2023/24 reached 2,000 incidents per day
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PA
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers general secretary, Paddy Lillis, said that staff were working “in fear of the next incident of abuse, threats or violence”.
Lillis added: “Crime has a very direct impact on the viability of stores, as retailers go to increasing lengths and expense to make them secure and safe.
“We have campaigned along with the BRC for substantial legislative measures to combat this growing problem and we are pleased that the Government will be introducing the Crime and Policing Bill, which will meet our aims.”
There were 20 million incidents of theft reported, costing retails over £2.2billion in 2023/24.
