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Police are warning Midlands shoppers to beware beggars pretending to be homeless outside a popular supermarket.

Cops are warning you not to give the beggars money as they "torment" supermarket shoppers in Stoke-on-Trent.

Staffordshire Police say the problem has got worse in recent weeks.

The dramatic scenes are unfolding outside a Stoke branch of Sainsbury's.

The supermarket giant has been the scene of an escalating number of beggars in recent weeks.

The rise has come despite charities offering them support and hostels accepting more people, according to StokeonTrentLive .

Shoppers have reported being 'intimidated' by people demanding money outside the London Road store.

PCSO Daniel Boote said: "Sainsbury's seems to be the main location and a lot of the people aren't actually homeless.

"People need to be aware that a lot of them are coming out of hostels or local flats, they've got a sleeping bag or a blanket and they pretend to be homeless - just so they can get a bit of money off people.

"There are very few genuine homeless people at the minute.

"We tend to notice that if people come out early doors at about 7am you might just get the odd one, then come lunchtime, every man and his dog is outside all the shops.

"People need to be wary and never give money to anyone."

Shoppers Mike and Patty Stachow recently encountered the same beggar outside Iceland and Sainsbury's, in Stoke.

Patty, aged 73, said: "He was outside Iceland last week and then he moved to Sainsbury's - he was asking everyone for money.

"He didn't really look homeless to me.

"It was a bloke with a red anorak on.

"As people were parking up and coming out, he was asking everyone for money.

"He was intimidating and walking around.

"When he got told 'no' by four or five people he went and got his backpack and moved on."

Husband Mike, aged 66, said: "He was clean, dressed properly and professional.

"He's not getting any of my money.

"When they're like that the police should move them on. 'Spare any money for a coffee?' - on your bike."

But fellow shopper Lisa Webb, aged 48, said: "There are usually three or four people outside Sainsbury's on a regular basis.

"They're hungry and they've got nowhere to turn.

"It's appalling."

A police spokesman said: “A lot of progress has been made with partners over the last year to tackle the issue of people begging who are not homeless.

"However, there are still isolated incidents in the area and we are keen to work with the community to prevent this."