Police presence at JD Sports over fears of balaclava-clad teens raiding shop

Police were deployed to a JD Sports store after posts suggesting a possible 'mass raid' had been circulated on social media.

Riot vans and police cars were called to the Festival Park shop in Stoke-on-Trent for fear of a large-scale looting.

The message shared on social media raised concerns that teenagers wearing balaclavas were going to storm JD Sports at 7pm on Friday.

No one is believed to have been arrested, according to StokeonTrent Live .

The high security alert came after several JD Sports stores have been targeted over the last few days.

Officers were called to JD Sports at Festival Park ahead of a possible raid (stokesentinel.co.uk)

Sgt Chris Moss said an 18-year-old man was arrested at Hanley bus station, about a mile from Festival Park, on suspicion of possessing a knife.

He said: "We had some information from an anonymous person that there was an organised event on Snapchat for a load of lads to come down to JD Sports at 7pm wearing balaclavas so they can all storm into the store and nick a load of stock and run out.

"Officers have been providing a hi-visibility presence this evening to JD store Hanley and Festival Park.

"This was due to info about what is known on social media as 'Mass Stealing'. We will continue to provide hi-vis patrols tomorrow for public reassurance and to prevent crime."

A branch in Hanley closed part of the entrance amid concerns of a large-scale looting (stokesentinel.co.uk)

The message circulating on Snapchat suggest a balaclava-clad gang to storm the shop at 7pm (stokesentinel.co.uk)

Shoppers who were aware of the recent craze condemned the behaviour of those behind the raid.

Craig Matthews, 25, of Bentilee, said: "It was a really stupid thing to do. We do not want that sort of thing in Stoke-on-Trent.

"I moved down from Manchester to get away from that sort of stuff. I am hoping to go about my shopping as normal."

Lesley Eardley, 64, said: "It would be terrifying to be a shopper if people came in wearing balaclavas and started robbing the store."

Another shopper said: "It seems like this is going to be the next big thing. They're just trying to copycat what's happening in bigger cities like London."

Video shows a previous incident in North London where a gang stormed inside a JD Sports and left with stolen goods (stokesentinel.co.uk)

Mobile footage circulating on social media shows a similar incident which happened on Halloween night when a gang stormed into JD Sports at Tottenham Retail Park in north London.

The group were seen grabbing handfuls of clothes and accessories before fleeing the shop.

Shocked bystanders watch as over a dozen people wearing face masks run out of the store.