He’s the scourge of shoplifters, a crime-fighter who has arrested more than 2,500 criminals.
But the man whose name strikes fear into the heart of criminals is not a policeman, he’s a security guard.
John Makin is an indoor enforcer whose life has been dedicated to clamping down on the shoplifters that cost UK businesses a total of £5 billion a year.
From his headquarters at the Buchanan Street branch of clothing shop USC, he is plugged into a Glasgow-wide surveillance network that makes sure that criminal shoplifting gangs get what’s coming to them.
John, 36, from Cumnock, East Ayrshire, said: “I snap at the heels of shoplifters and never let go.
“I’m not fearless, but I make it my main priority to make sure that the staff and kids that visit the shop are well protected. A jacket or a pair of socks can be replaced, but a person can’t.”
He has spent up to six day a week on shopfloors since the age of 18, using his superb memory and keen eyes to catch criminals.
He puts his success down to being able to effortlessly recall the faces of repeat shoplifters.
The crack security guard is also able to quickly spot the tools used by thieves, such as foil-lined bags that help them smuggle stolen goods out of shops, and scope out suspicious behaviour at a glance.
Makin works in conjunction with other stores around the city, which share a radio network that allows them to keep each other up to date on what criminals are at large on any given day.
They are also able to access the CCTV network operated by the participating stores as well as the street cameras operated by the police.
Sadly, he has witnessed a marked increase in violence against shop workers.
He said: “Violence has escalated to a shocking level. It’s getting worse. But by working together with other shops and the police, we are tackling it head on.”
Criminals’ tactics have also evolved and the past few years have seen the growth of professional shoplifting gangs.
More than half of all shoplifting is now thought to be carried out by organised gangs with up to 150 members who are able to net up to £100,000 worth of stolen gear in one day.
They travel around the country on missions to pillage shops, using the motorway networks to travel as far afield as they can in a bid to avoid detection.
Makin added: “Shoplifting has changed since I began as a security guard.
“It used to be the case that many of the thieves were substance abusers, but now it’s turned into a team-driven crime organised by gangs.”
The super-security guard is currently helping the police with four high-profile cases, including that of a family that is alleged to be Glasgow’s biggest organised shoplifting gang. He can’t mention the case for legal reasons.
His overall aim is simple: making sure our city centre is crime-free.
Makin added: “I want to make sure that shoppers and visitors know that Glasgow is a safe place to go shopping.”
But the modest security man added: “I’m nobody special – just a man with a good memory and a cog in a bigger machine.
“The people I work with around the city, from Glasgow Town Centre Security Team to Strathclyde Police and its Safer City Initiative, are second to none.”
The shop-cop was given the inaugural Outstanding Achievement Award at the annual general meeting of Retailers Against Crime, a Scotland based anti-shoplifting group, for his single-minded dedication to battling shoplifters.
Retailers Against Crime helps to clamp down on shoplifting around Glasgow and Scotland.
Maxine Fraser, head of Retailers Against Crime, said: “He is probably the most dedicated officer we have ever seen in 11 years in the business.
“He phones us every day at 9am, asking for any news, and constantly sends us information and pictures, probably twice a day.
“He also assists Strathclyde Police no end with identification of individuals.”
Shoplifting has risen by 20% nationwide and 10% in Scotland over last year.
It bucks the downward trend for many similar crimes, including theft from a motor vehicle and even fraud, which are on the decrease. Criminals now cost UK retailers almost £5bn.
