A cardboard policeman used as part of a crime reduction scheme has been stolen from a Kingston shop window. 
Millets, Claire’s Accessories and Superdrug at the end of October to see if their presence would reduce the amount of shop theft.
Commenting on the two month pilot scheme, Kingstonfirst Business Crime Reduction Manager Paul Riordan said: “After three weeks the area manager of Claire’s objected to [the scheme] and removed the cut-out and the one in Superdrug has been stolen. However, I have replaced it with the one from Claire’s.”
Kingstonfirst has spent £149 on the scheme, and intends to evaluate it on 18th December, with the possibility of introducing more of the cardboard policemen if they are deemed to have been successful.
Kingston residents have had mixed reactions to the cut-outs, as a Twitter survey by the Kingston Courier showed.
Hannah Crompton said: “They frighten the life out of me! But they’re a great way to deter thieves.”
However, Leslie Jones was less impressed with the scheme. He commented: “Real police not cardboard ones thank you.”
