A MARKETING tactic took a turn for the worst as a pricey pair of shoes were nabbed from an independent business.

A strategically placed pair of trainers were allegedly stolen from outside DGSL, a shoe restoration shop in Red Lion Yard, Colchester, on Sunday.

The business usually takes a well-earned day off on a Sunday, but owner Gareth Tansey decided to open especially to “keep up with demand”.

To promote his work, Gareth started the day by hanging a freshly restored pair of trainers over his shop’s sign, where he intended to keep them to intrigue passersby.

He said: “I want people to be able to see the before and after of the work we do and I thought if people can see an example of our work it would help build trust with the public.

“I spent a lot of time restoring them to show people we’re into sustainability, but it didn’t last long unfortunately because they were stolen.

“I needed a ladder to get up there so I thought no-one would take them.”

But within 35 minutes of the business owner locking up at 4pm, CCTV captured a man jumping outside the shop before allegedly fleeing with the pair of red Jordan 4 Toro’s, worth about £150.

Gazette: Scene - DGSL, in Red Lion Yard, ColchesterScene - DGSL, in Red Lion Yard, Colchester (Image: Newsquest)

Gareth, who relocated his business to Red Lion Yard from its previous home in High Street last month, said he was “really upset” to see the high-ticket shoes snatched after putting a huge amount of time and effort into restoring them.

The businessman has reported the purported theft to Essex Police and hopes to be reunited with the pair of trainers.

The incident comes after the business fell victim to a late-night act of vandalism which saw a window smashed at its former High Street location, which opened in 2020, last year.

Reflecting on the latest attack against his business, Gareth added: “Even my nine-year-old daughter questioned why someone would do that. We’re just a small independent family business.”

The 42-year-old works alongside customer-turned-friend Paul Cox whose brand Sneak gives shoe fanatics an opportunity to purchase unique trainers alongside Gareth’s expert footwear and bag restoration service.