Businessman who called police as armed gang ransacked his shop left astonished after part-time bobby on his bicycle turned up to investigate 

Mr Islam’s boutique Spoilt Brats in Moreton, Wirral, is run by his wife Deborah Cummings. It was closed when the raiders struck but he was in the kitchen of his Spice Club restaurant next door
  • Gang stole £5,000 worth of designer goods from shop in Moreton, Wirral 
  • By the time PCSO arrived the gang had left and injured two employees
  • Wirral Chief Inspector apologised for response, adding it was a 'busy night'


Mr Islam’s boutique Spoilt Brats in Moreton, Wirral, is run by his wife Deborah Cummings. It was closed when the raiders struck but he was in the kitchen of his Spice Club restaurant next door
A businessman who dialled 999 as masked raiders ransacked his shop was astonished when a lone police community support officer on a bicycle turned up ten minutes later.
The gang, believed to be armed, were still at the children’s clothing boutique when Sam Islam rang.
But by the time the PCSO arrived they had gone, taking up to £5,000 of designer goods and injuring two of Mr Islam’s employees who tried to stop them.
It was the second break-in Mr Islam, 37, had stumbled across at the shop in a little over a week, although hardly anything was taken the first time.
Yesterday he said: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I saw him ride up on a bicycle. 
'There were four armed men in balaclavas and a push-bike patrol attended. How reassuring is that?’
As Merseyside Police apologised for the ‘not proportionate’ response to his call, Mr Islam said he had spoken to a number of other local businesses who were also worried about the level of police protection in the area. 
The Dixon of Dock Green-style response is the latest piece of evidence of how overstretched forces are being accused of letting down victims of crime. 
Last year it emerged that detectives based in Lewisham, South London, were resorting to catching buses to investigate crimes because of a shortage of cars.
Mr Islam’s boutique Spoilt Brats in Moreton, Wirral, which is run by his wife Deborah Cummings, was closed when the raiders struck at around 7pm on December 20, but he was in the kitchen of his Spice Club restaurant next door.‘My manager came up and said “I’m sure your shop alarm is going off”,’ the businessman said yesterday. ‘I was thinking it was a false alarm and went in the back. 
'They were still in the place with the alarm screaming – that’s how cheeky they were. I could hear them inside, so I went back to the restaurant to call police.
‘While I was on the phone, the four of them ran outside carrying bags of clothes. 
'They were all armed although I couldn’t see what with. The gang members ran to a car and some of my staff gave chase, but two were hurt as they tried to stop them driving away.’
Ransacked: Traders say they are worried about police patrols after a number of businesses in the area were burgled in recent weeks. Pictured, Deborah Cummings in the Spoilt Brats Clothes Shop

Ransacked: Traders say they are worried about police patrols after a number of businesses in the area were burgled in recent weeks. Pictured, Deborah Cummings in the Spoilt Brats Clothes Shop
A police car arrived around ten minutes after the PCSO, but there was no sign of the suspects.
Wirral Chief Inspector Paul Sutcliffe said: ‘We recognise that our response was not proportionate and not up to the standard expected of Merseyside Police and for that we apologise.
‘This was a particularly busy evening, but we understand how this must have been very distressing for the proprietor and we should have responded more appropriately and more quickly.
‘My neighbourhood officers have since been to visit the shop to reassure the owner that we are investigating this incident thoroughly and we take these incidents very seriously. 
'We are pursuing a number of inquiries.’
Merseyside Police said patrols in the area had been stepped up. 
Wirral Chief Inspector Paul Sutcliffe apologised for the response, adding it was a 'busy night' (stock image)

Wirral Chief Inspector Paul Sutcliffe apologised for the response, adding it was a 'busy night' (stock image)