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Original poster

To wonder why shoplifters are so thick and selfish?

182 replies

girlfriend44 · 12/08/2025 18:50

Pharmacies have today revealed they are suffering from increased shoplifting too.
Where us this all going to end

If people keep stealing there won't be any ships left will there?
Have they ever tried running a business?
What would they do if people kept stealing?
How low as well stealing from an independent pharmacy. It's hard enough for them as it is.

They are there for people in the community as well to help them?
Makes no sense.
People are thick and selfish.
Are they trying to ose everyone down?

🙄😪

OP posts:
Original poster
girlfriend44 · 12/08/2025 20:40

ilovesooty · 12/08/2025 19:06

How much time have you spent working with acquisitive crime? I'm not endorsing or excusing it, but I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about.

😂 Shoplifting/ Stealing isn't on the rise then?

OP posts:
doubleornothing · 12/08/2025 20:40

I work in a cafe attached to a supermarket, the amount of people that shoplifter is astounding. We see security trying to stop certain people who are repeat offenders but the police won't do anything if the amount is under 200 quid..
Have had people come in the cafe and grab drinks and food out of the chiller and run,and the charity box too, we had a manager chase after the before but I've said straight up I'm not doing that, I'm not risking my life to stop
someone stealing.

x2boys · 12/08/2025 20:36

BlankBlankBlank14 · 12/08/2025 20:24

Can you imagine the shame someone would feel having to beg for formula?

Can you imagine that shoplifting and hoping you’re not caught might save some of that shame?

Show quote history

You would surely feel more shame being convicted of shoplifting
And potentially all your friends and family finding out🤔

OonaStubbs · 12/08/2025 20:30

Shoplifting is a scourge and it needs to be cracked down upon. Shoplifters should always be punished to the full extent of the law, and large thefts and repeat offenders should always go to jail.

YourUglySister · 12/08/2025 20:28

BlankBlankBlank14 · 12/08/2025 20:24

Can you imagine the shame someone would feel having to beg for formula?

Can you imagine that shoplifting and hoping you’re not caught might save some of that shame?

Show quote history

Can you imagine the shame of being caught shoplifting and getting a criminal record and diminishing your own / your child’s chances in life though.

YourUglySister · 12/08/2025 20:26

mumofoneAloneandwell · 12/08/2025 18:58

Youre on your own
Your family have bullied you and treated you like shit. Your kids dad is gone. No friends.
Youre down to your last few pounds. And your baby suddenly gets a fever

Are you really thick and selfish for stealing some calpol, which costs over £3?

Imo, no

Edit - ive been in this situation but have never stolen. But I've been so broke i might have had to. Thankfully things are a little better now.

Edited

There are ways of doing things that don’t involve being a scumbag though. In that case, you’d go to the GP and explain the situation and ask for help, not risk shoplifting and having to leave your sick baby while you get into a confrontation with shop staff / arrested surely. People don’t help themselves.

BlankBlankBlank14 · 12/08/2025 20:24

ZoeCM · 12/08/2025 19:07

I don't think shoplifters steal out of desperation. If a mother can't afford formula, for example, I doubt any GP would send her away if she begged for it. Shoplifters steal out of entitlement.

Can you imagine the shame someone would feel having to beg for formula?

Can you imagine that shoplifting and hoping you’re not caught might save some of that shame?

TheDivergentEnigma · 12/08/2025 20:22

ilovesooty · 12/08/2025 19:06

How much time have you spent working with acquisitive crime? I'm not endorsing or excusing it, but I don't think you have any idea what you're talking about.

This with bells on,

LlynTegid · 12/08/2025 20:20

The police have had numbers reduced (starting in London when Boris Johnson was Mayor, shortly afterwards elsewhere), the courts have been mismanaged by a succession of poor Justice Secretaries (remember Liz Truss, Chris Grayling and Dominic Raab?) and so the chances of being caught and justice are almost as low for theft from shops as for sex offences against women.

Some of it might be less if there were no self service tills, though that does not apply to pharmacies.

ThatCyanCat · 12/08/2025 20:13

Well it hugely depends on circumstances. It's never right but I feel differently about a lone parent in dire straits stealing Calpol than I do to some cocky git who thinks it's a game.

Avoidhumans · 12/08/2025 20:07

lnks · 12/08/2025 19:00

Some are thick and selfish,
others are desperate and at breaking point.

This speaks loud and clear and very true.

DustyMaiden · 12/08/2025 20:04

The majority of shoplifting is to find a habit. Especially cosmetics

JeremiahBullfrog · 12/08/2025 20:01

Blaming shoplifting on hypothetical penniless friendless single mothers as a way to excuse nothing being done about it only drives up prices, which disproportionately hurts the poor.

The whole "they only do crime because they're poor" thing is also really disrespectful to the millions of poor people who manage to obey the law perfectly well.

Wynter25 · 12/08/2025 19:45

x2boys · 12/08/2025 19:17

Do healthy start vouchers still exist ,I know when my kids were babies people under a certain income could get formula for free with vouchers .

Show quote history

Yes they still exist. I've got some.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 12/08/2025 19:42

The trouble is, unless they steal goods of a certain high value, they know nothing’s going to happen to them, barely even a slap on the wrist. Until the govt. make sure the police take it seriously, nothing is going to change. Gangs from abroad come specifically to shoplift (don’t anyone accuse me of racism, this is a fact) - they know we are so bloody stupidly soft, nothing will happen to them.

Resetqueen · 12/08/2025 19:42

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 12/08/2025 19:41

girlfriend44 · 12/08/2025 19:40

Give over, that's not why people are doing it.
They are doing shoplifting in general because they've got no.moral compass and because there is no deterrent.
Things aren't free.

Show quote history

People aren't stealing out of desperation? With the price of food and essentials? Really??

Original poster
girlfriend44 · 12/08/2025 19:40

mumofoneAloneandwell · 12/08/2025 18:58

Youre on your own
Your family have bullied you and treated you like shit. Your kids dad is gone. No friends.
Youre down to your last few pounds. And your baby suddenly gets a fever

Are you really thick and selfish for stealing some calpol, which costs over £3?

Imo, no

Edit - ive been in this situation but have never stolen. But I've been so broke i might have had to. Thankfully things are a little better now.

Edited

Give over, that's not why people are doing it.
They are doing shoplifting in general because they've got no.moral compass and because there is no deterrent.
Things aren't free.

OP posts:
Gingernaut · 12/08/2025 19:39

Jumpthewaves · 12/08/2025 19:35

Is it even medication that's being stolen? A lot of pharmacies stock some expensive beauty products and I think these are often targeted as they're desirable and easy to sell on.

Gaviscon liquid and pills are extortionate, as are Nexium and shop's own brand

I witnessed someone stealing Pepto-Bismol

If they can steal branded products they will - Laundry pods, off the shelf medicines, cleaning products and personal care items

Colgate and Sensodyne products are popular

FKAT · 12/08/2025 19:36

LIGHTSNACKER · 12/08/2025 19:31

Why would I blame a shop for someone else's crime? I saw an article this week blaming Saddiq Khan for crime on the underground. Erm not, it's the perpetrator.

Show quote history
  1. You haven't understood what I've said - I haven't mentioned blame at all.
  2. Sadiq Khan is responsible for TFL - and the crime that takes place on the underground.

Many people will steal if they're given an opportunity. It's a systemic issue - not just about individual criminals.

Jumpthewaves · 12/08/2025 19:35

Is it even medication that's being stolen? A lot of pharmacies stock some expensive beauty products and I think these are often targeted as they're desirable and easy to sell on.

WaneyEdge · 12/08/2025 19:34

x2boys · 12/08/2025 19:17

Do healthy start vouchers still exist ,I know when my kids were babies people under a certain income could get formula for free with vouchers .

Show quote history

Yes they do. Saw a poster at the supermarket about them today.

mamagogo1 · 12/08/2025 19:33

If all people were stealing out of desperation pharmacies would not be making this statement, the reality is people steal to sell on, for the thrill and because they want to spend the money they do have on other things. I’ve seen calpol for sale in weird places, knock down prices … where do you think it’s from? Baby formula is stolen and sold in pubs (saw it happening). Meat being openly sold in a pub car park out of a normal car boot … all marked Sainsburys. Criminals steal, desperate people just need to ask, no pharmacy would let a parent go without needed medication for their baby

LIGHTSNACKER · 12/08/2025 19:33

I don't buy clothes with a label on anymore from vinted in case it is stolen.

LIGHTSNACKER · 12/08/2025 19:31

FKAT · 12/08/2025 19:28

Direct your anger to the supermarkets. They've decided not to bother enforcing shoplifting policies and instead passing on the cost to the paying consumer (suckers like us). It's called shrinkage and it's an accounting line in every supermarket supplier's P&L and it's built into the price of the goods.

Why would I blame a shop for someone else's crime? I saw an article this week blaming Saddiq Khan for crime on the underground. Erm not, it's the perpetrator.