Children as young as nine have been terrorising a Scottish retail park by abusing staff, vandalising premises and scaring animals in a pet shop.
According to a report in the Courier, workers at Pets At Home in Dundee were forced to lock the shop after a group of boys caused a ‘riot’.
Customers on the Kingsway Retail Park store said the youths threatened and spat at staff, kicked windows and swore.
One eyewitness told the newspaper that staff had to lock everyone inside in an attempt to prevent the children, aged between about nine and 13, from entering.
Customers were shocked by the behaviour, which ‘terrified’ both the employees and animals in the shop.
TORRENT OF ABUSE
Meanwhile staff at a nearby Wicke’s DIY store said children of around the same age had been running into the shop, shouting and unleashing ‘a torrent of abuse'” when confronted.
Police confirmed they were aware of the incident at Pets at Home, which happened in the early evening of last Thursday (October 10), but said officers had not been able to trace the group.
One customer who was in the shop at the time told the Courtier: “The young boys were screaming at staff, swearing and shouting when asked to leave for running around, causing the poor animals in the pens to hide.
LOUD BANGS
“Staff had to close doors and essentially lock us in to keep them out.
“They started causing a riot outside the store, kicking glass doors, which caused loud bangs, and spitting at staff and on windows. My five-year-old’s never seen anything like that so it caused him alarm.
“Staff need to be praised in their efforts to control the situation and protect the store and the terrified animals.
“Because of the age of the boys, nothing happens so they just continue causing havoc with no repercussions. No-one should go to work to receive abuse from little yobs. I would be appalled if it was my kids.”
