Mum shoplifting in Tesco

I live in a tough area and shoplifting is rife all the time.The local branch of a well known supermarket charges higher prices than the one in a more affluent area because of the shoplifting from it.Thee is usually only one manned till, sometimes none. One member staff is looking after the many self service ones trying to spot people who leave without paying.It must be the most unpopular job in the store, and it is usually the new recruits to the staff who have to it.
The staff members who have been there for years are permanently in place at the cigarette and spirit tills, they are considered by the rest of the staff as the cushy number as it is difficult to steal from them.
I used to be regularly offered items from my neighbours that were ''hot''', but always declined them.I have even been offered items while standing at a bus stop.
Prams and buggies are regularly used to hide stolen items.
Saying that though, when I was baby ( born near the end of WW2), my pram was used to hide black market meat that my mother got from a relative who worked for a wholesale butcher.He would arrange to meet my mother outside one of the shops he worked in, slip the meat under the pram apron while pretending to make a fuss of me.The only difference between that and shoplifting was that it was paid for, but more than the allocated ration.

I'd have felt sorry for her too @1000yellowdaisies

doesn't mean i'm pro theft

God I still remember when my own two were small 20 years ago, there was a woman being marxhed through a cheap catalogue shop we were in a few days before Christmas, she'd stolen what looked like some kids, sooty and Sweep glove puppets. I can still remember her shouting 'but I need them, I need them ' as her poor kids toddled next to her.

I think people are treated a bit kinder these days and I'd hope someone in that sort of situation would be directed towards support rather than needlessly humiliated.

Yes I think theft in supermarkets has increased in recent years - when I was working in one as of last year, we were security tagging so many different product lines compared when I started some years previously. Tagging baby milk. The trolleys had locks on the wheels to stop people just walking out with full trolleys of shopping without paying. A sign of the times I guess.

Its not. There have always been thieves. It should be called theft, not the softer shoplifting. I worked in retail most of my working life and thieves were a major problem, costing the retailer (passed onto the customers) millions of pounds every year. I was punched, had a death threat when leaving court from the thief, had knives pulled on me. I have sympathy with anyone with no money for food, but theft is not the answer. I have no sympathy for anyone who chooses to steal from shops and gets caught.

Tory Britain

When I read the title I thought you meant your own mum lol.

It’s hard to imagine anyone reading this thread and “lolling”

They would have called the police and she would have been arrested
they will not let a shoplifter go it’s an arrest, she would have been allowed to call someone (family member) to come get the child

been there!

Yes I worked in Boots at holiday in-between terms and a man was trying to put through some nappies. He ran off then it turned out it didn't go through by card so I was very uncertain what to do for a few seconds until I called supervisor

Did he leave the shop? It's not theft until they've left or attempted to leave the building, you can put items in anything you like as long as you don't leave without paying.

Hopefully SS will get involved and help her to cope. Point her in the direction of services to help her, get her kids into daycare and her into work.

Can confirm 30 years ago.

Nappies & formula went under the seat and over the handles, razors, medicines and meat under the hood. All on sale later that day outside the pub.

The money wasn't being used to buy anything for children, either. But if they got caught, they'd look all sad and teary and claim they didn't have anything in the house to feed the children apart from dry jam sandwiches.

I worked in retail as a student more than 20 years ago and theft of baby products was common, it's hardly a sign of the times. I remember we had a lady with a pram that she must have brought in just for this purpose, as there was no baby in it.

And if she is selling them on Facebook? According to op it was nappies and calpol, not meat or alcohol or anything expensive.
Even if she does it twice a day, every day, I can’t imagine she’s living the high life on the proceeds of crime.
Fortunately I’ve never been in the position where I’ve needed to sell a pack of stolen nappies, but I’d guess you’d have to be pretty desperate to bother. Likewise you’d have to be pretty hard up to go to the trouble of buying them from her.

Yes, I’d report someone stealing none essential goods, or large quantities of a single product or anything else that clearly wasn’t for basic personal needs, and if it was a small independent business. But nappies in tescos? Sorry but I wouldn’t see anything.

When I read the title I thought you meant your own mum lol.

I know shoplifters use buggies but it’s not usually 1 pack of nappies and Calpol. I grew up in a tough area and the local thieves always had booze and fags to sell. Then toiletry sets and expensive cuts of meats for Christmas.

Trouble is everyone else pays for theft

Shoplifters need to be cracked down on and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. They should also be banned from all supermarkets for a lengthy period of time.

I really hope they let her off with a warning. So many people can’t afford the basic necessities.

Honestly once you spot some shoplifting, you'll see it all the time!

Literally saw 2 people walk out with stuff in my Sainsbury local last weekend, I was only in there for 10 minutes. It's really bad in the Tesco express, possibly worse. I was talking to a friend about it. People just walk out with stuff. Very prolific and seems very little the shops do about it- I've never seen anyone challenge.

Poor lady

My DH worked for a shop 15 years ago and stealing using pushchairs was a common trick even then. I’m always cynical now. There is no real deterrent.

Unfortunately you will never know if she had a genuine need or was flogging stuff on Facebook.

If she genuinely did not have the funds to buy this stuff then I feel awful for her, no one should ever be in that position.

Kind of vile that baby supplies are so expensive, whether omeone would nick them for their own use or sell them to someone equally desperate.
An utter farce of a society

If it was items for her child or food i would quietly have offered to buy her what she needed until she had some money to start paying for things herself again, as well as checking she knew about foodbanks etc. 😥