Mum shoplifting in Tesco

A buggy is very often used by professional shoplifters. If you work in retail you become a bit cynical about shoplifters motives.

No one can tell from this little information if she was desperate and didn't know how else to access help or if she was a career criminal. Hopefully if she needs help she will be told how to access it.

I used to work in a shop where a woman would come in about once a month and shoplift formula and tampons. Never said a word about it to my manager or security. In the end she got caught and banned, but no police were called.

That’s not how food banks work either. At the one I volunteer at (have done for two years), you get a parcel of set items.

It’s really difficult because the pros absolutely use buggies for shop lifting (my dad was on a jury at least 10 years ago for someone who had the tray of her buggy stuffed full of high end perfumes etc), but of course there are lots of people now genuinely feeling the pinch. I suppose if they could give her a leaflet for the food bank or some other local support the first time, but keep an eye out…

when I worked in Tesco I saw one bloke loading up a bag with sausages. Should I have not alerted security in case he was just hungry? People stealing to order will take anything, including nappies and calpol

And so what: everyone in need can walk in and just take what they want; that’s a food bank not down tescos.

Good for you. I genuinely mean that. You did the right thing. Hope things are better now 💐

We once had an off duty police officer witness a theft and he knew the bloke because he was a prolific shoplifter and still nothing was done. There's absolutely no repercussions for theft and they know it, people like you pay for it not them.

This wasn’t what I expected from the title. I fully expected to hear of a little old Nan shoplifting due to Alzheimer’s.

That said, it is a sign of the times. Times that seem to come and go only to come round again. I hope if she was desperate she is getting a referral to a food bank.

This happened to someone I knew, though she didn't have children and she stole toiletries.

She was told she should accept a caution. She wouldn't. Finally she admitted she'd swapped the price tags and just as she was about to explain why, they charged her. She had to pay £750 in all. The item she stole was £3. (It was about 20 years ago.)

They generally don't, unless it's a prolific shoplifter they have been trying to catch for some time

Or down my local wetherspoons pub.

"oi love do you want some cheap bacon ?"

I don’t think they call the Police if it’s under £100. Could be an urban myth so don’t quote me.

I wouldn’t feel too sorry for her… maybe I’m cynical but I know too many people who sell shoplifted nappies, calpol, washing detergent, steak, dishwasher tablets.

She was probably taking it home to add to a big prize for those stupid Facebook raffles the professional shoplifters do.

My DD works at one of the main supermarkets, she says there's loads of shoplifting, mostly booze & meat. They have regular shoplifters & the only thing they can do is ban them from the shop, but they usually (try to) come back. The police aren't interested particularly since the economy crashed. Sounds awful but they're too busy with other things to be bothered with supermarket shoplifters.

Unfortunatly whilst this could be a mum in need it could also be a professional shoplifter using the kid as a ploy to not be stopped. It may not even be her child.

Lots of thieves are professionals who then zell stuff on.
It is not just things like booze etc.
Meat, nappies, baby formula, cheese, medicines and so on.
All gets sold on.
Some are genuine, but loads are profi ones.

With the amount of foodbanks and charities around helping, people should be able to access help.

Hopefully she will get some help as a result of this.

Very sad.

Expect she will just get banned. We see it all the time. And it’s definitely got worse the last couple of months.

I don't know where you live but if you can get police to a supermarket for theft then you are very lucky. This is why you see signs upon store entrances saying they operate a civil recovery process.

Tesco always prosecute in our area to deter thieves.

They very often let them leave the first couple of times whilst they repeatedly film them on numerous visits to get enough evidence to show intent and not a ‘oops I forgot to pay as I was distracted’ moment.
Calpol (or equivalent) could be given free if need be.
minor ailment scheme

This reminds me when I was a young mum. We had no money, no one to borrow off, no help and had 2 weeks till payday.
I needed nappies we had 3 left and so I stole some under my pushchair and prayed nobody saw me as I walked out of that door. I know it was wrong but I had no choice, I would of paid for it for her. It's horrific being in that situation and I imagine this is just the start of what's to come.