A Brentwood trader has demanded that police improve their communication systems after his repeated attempts to alert officers to the presence of shoplifters ended in failure.

Richard Gregory, owner of Zakz menswear store on the High Street, tried to telephone Brentwood Police Station at lunchtime on Friday as soon as he realised a pair of male shoplifters had made off with a £45 shirt.

Finding that he couldn't get through, he tried again -- and again - but as the afternoon became evening he could still get no answer.

The shop's manager even tried to flag down a passing police car, only to be told by the occupants that they were from Basildon and so could not help.

A furious Mr Gregory said: "I hope this is not the sort of policing we can expect in the 21st Century.

"Us losing a shirt is obviously not that big a deal, but we could have been talking about something much more serious, even murder.

"There must have been a police officer somewhere in the town, but to alert them we must be able to get through to them."

Acknowledging the problem, Acting Insp John Dodman said: "If a trader needs a police officer in his shop and he has tried and tried the conventional system and wasn't getting through, then he can try 999.

"But he should only do that if it is a serious matter and he desperately needs officers now. If it can wait, he should persevere and be patient."

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