Shop lifting from charity shop

[SecondhandRose]

I work in a charity shop, a woman comes in on a weekly basis or more. Her husband waits outside and tells her when it is OK to steal. She will buy stuff too and she donates decent stuff regularly.

Last week she paid me £1 for two cushion covers and I could see a top in her bag that she had shoplifted. But I didnt actually see her put it in her bag. It was just so busy I wasnt able to watch her the whole time.

The other staff just let her do it as they think she will be agressive if caught. WWYD?

Tell the manager, then head office if you get nowhere.

Ask the police for advice.

She can't be allowed to get away with this anymore and the fact she donates is irrelevant. Chances are she nicks the stuff she donates from another shop!

If you actually see her do it, you are morally obliged to make a citizens arrest. Otherwise you are supporting her in stealing from a charity fgs. Have a plan worked out with the other volunteers - along the lines of one to stop and arrest, one to call police then help and one to lock the door to prevent trouble from her husband. What she is doing is plain wrong, please don't validate it by not having the courage to stop her.

Hang on, original post said I havent seen her take anything, I just saw a top in her bag but I would like to be prepared for her next time. She obviously sees us as an easy target but I also suspect she has a problem as she doesnt seem short of money.

The OP actually said you didn't see her take the top. You all seem convinced she is stealing though so best you all agree a plan and also keep a sharp eye out when she is in. Good luck.

I work in retail. A large high st chain. Afaik prosecution is nigh on impossible unless you witness a shoplifter:

1. Select an item
2. Conceal the item, then
3. Fail to pay. That means leave the store not just fail to produce it while paying for other things.

You can try to deter which, in my store at least, means following them around, asking if they need help, generally being annoying either overtly or covertly. It usually means they dump their stash which with gangs doesn't stop them permanently but with individuals doing it to get their yayas might be enough to put them off.

Hope you catch her or at least can deter her. Shoplifting is NOT a victimless crime. We ALL pay for it in higher prices. I have also never heard of a truely desperate to feed their kids thief either and I have 20+ years service in my job. I have however had numerous examples of women who have stollen while with their kids and who could care less that they also end up detained while the police and ss are called.

Thank you trudolph. I was thinking I might just warn her and husband off perhaps outside the shop. It is shocking but I am sure she gets some kind of kick out of it. Wait for the next instalment! Hope she comes in on my shift tomorrow.

I agree she may be doing a circuit of charity shops.

Maybe talk to other charities ?

You can just ban her; entirely legal.

She came in today, I was walking round next to her saying I could get a better signal on my phone as I was looking something up on the internet. She didnt get a chance an she bought something for £3!

Result! Just keep doing it and she'll get frustrated and probably stop coming in.

If you suspect she's doing it in other shops you should let them know and tell them your tactics. Do you have a traders association or neighbourhood watch thingy? Most shopping streets/districts have something like it for sharing this kind of stuff.

Mmmm don't know. Something to think about, thanks.