Castle Mall said today background checks are carried out on all pop up shops in the Norwich centre after scores of customers complained about losing money to one firm.
Shoppers said they bought goods which were never delivered from a shop in the Mall called Retail Direct UK which closed last week.Sarah Broomfield, 39, from Norwich, who bought a bench and egg chair from the outlet near TK Maxx, said: 'I just thought being in the Castle Mall it was safe.
'I paid £170 and never received my order. As I paid cash I'm never going to see it again.'
Sherilee Pointer, 50, from Old Catton, also bought an egg chair, as well as a parasol spending £105.
'I find the whole matter disgraceful,' she said.
She questioned how a business could operate in Castle Mall which left shoppers out of pocket.
Retail Direct UK, which also sold goods on its website, was placed in the Mall through an agency in April.
Manager of Castle Mall Robert Bradley said: 'We have worked with the company that manages our temporary pop-up bookings for a number of years, and as such, background checks are carried out on all temporary pop up retailers to ensure the security and safety of shopping at Castle Mall.'
He added that they were helping with a police investigation and said the Mall had acted 'swiftly' to close down the retailer.
'We are genuinely sorry that customers have suffered losses,' he said.
Heather Summers, from Kessingland, stayed at home all day on Friday expecting delivery of £160-worth of garden furniture which did not appear.
'Looking back I shouldn't have done it,' she said. 'We just walked past, saw it and thought they were real bargains.'
Raschelle Dulce, 38, from Costessey bought her garden furniture from the shop for £150 on April 29.
'I trusted them as they were selling inside the Mall,' she said. 'I am so frustrated.'
A man in his 20s and a man in his 70s have been arrested in relation to allegations of fraud. The men have been released under investigation while police enquiries continue.
•Anyone who purchased goods from Retail Direct UK which have not been delivered should contact Det Con Graham Kett at Norwich CID by calling 101. Customers who paid by credit card should contact their credit card companies to get money back.
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