Robberies of shops are becoming increasingly violent where the thieves are interrupted and many owners are too scared of reprisals to report cases to the police, retail sector organisation Detailhandel Nederland reports.

Violence against shop owners and workers has tripled since 2007, according to police figures. In 40% of cases victims are too afraid for their own safety to go to the police.
Detailhandel Nederland is urging its members to report these crimes. ‘Those responsible must not avoid punishment,’ the organisation’s Sander Golberdinge told the press.
Caution
Golberdinge urges caution when faced with robbers, saying shop workers should never try to apprehend them on their own, but should only do so with a colleague. ‘And they should always phone the police, no matter how difficult it is,’ he said.
His advice is to take action immediately if a customer looks as if he or she is about to steal something. ‘You can always approach them and ask if they are ready to pay for the object in question,’ he said. ‘This usually does the trick.’