Shoplifting. What would you have done?

[MonroeM]

Today I think I observed a shoplifter. I was in one store and I overheard the assistant talking to another one about a female shoplifter who had just escaped being caught. She described her clothing.

This was a very small retail shopping area. I thought no more about it but a bit later was in a discount store nearby just browsing. A woman and her small daughter were looking at the boxed toys (little unicorns and mini games and puzzles) which I noticed as I was also browsing those shelves for grand children's gifts and treats.

The woman was wearing an outfit which could have matched the one I overheard being described earlier in the other store. I told myself not to assume anything but kept an eye on things and saw that the mother had put in her basket half a dozen girl's toys and they were still looking at more. I moved on to another aisle.

They came to my aisle and those toys were no longer in the basket. The woman had a handbag and a larger open shopping bag on her arm. The daughter then chose some pens and notebook stuff and gave it to her mother.

I made sure I was behind them when moving to the checkout and peeped into her shopping bag while pretending to look at something else. I couId see things in there. I know I know this may sound all very stupid or weird but this woman only paid for some fruit juice and balloons.

She could have changed her mind about all the toys and dumped them somewhere but I doubt it.

I have watched shoplifters before ages ago (2 young women who were DEFINITELY stealing) and told the staff who did not seem to be too concerned!! but what do others here think? Would you have told shop staff or just ignored it?

My son and I saw a young lady being apprehended in a South coast Asda superstore while on a day trip. She was scruffy, dirty, looked absolutely terrified and had taken an individual tent. We both felt desperately, desperately sorry for her and it put a damper on an otherwise lovely day.
We are both very honest and would never steal (in our current circumstances, anyway, who knows if we were desperate?) but if I had seen her taking it, I probably would have looked the other way.

I'd have ignored it. I'm not an unpaid security guard.

Honestly probably nothing 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’m not the store staff or security

Your behaviour was rather odd, maybe you just don’t get out much....

I saw the worlds worst shoplifters and told the checkout lady she reported it to the security guards who waited outside the shop for them

What a busy body you must be?

Not a busy body they were stuffing things inside their clothing in the middle of the shop and it's a small company FFS people like them can put a small business OUT of buisness

We cannot afford to suppliment people who steal it effects prices and business or dont you get that

I have reported shoplifters once

There are a few cases mentioned on here when I possibly wouldn’t have mentioned it

But i am very curious about the outright ‘i would never say anything...you are in the wrong’ posters

I’d like to think they would report some crimes at least...but maybe not

@slipperywhensparticus

Unless I'm on the payroll of that store, I couldn't give a dam really. Like I said, I'm not an unpaid security guard.

I’ve seen a couple of very brazen shoplifters in M&S - a woman picking up handbags and hanging them off the handles of her pram then waking out of the store, and a man walking through the store to the alcohol section, pick a bottle of champagne in each hand then walk straight out.

Both times security were nowhere to be seen (although they are always skulking around eyeballing you as you shop).

So you followed her all round the store, peered into her shopping bag, noticed she'd stolen some toys and then did fuck all about it?

Blimey, you don't get out much I take it?

Shoplifters know that if they have a child with them they get the sympathy vote from most other shoppers. Even some store staff will turn a blind eye, it's shocking but true.

They get the children to pick up the goods, the child then either puts them down in a pre-agreed spot, or the child creates a diversion with staff to allow the adult to bag the goods.

Next time you go in a store look out for little bundles of items in random locations. Especially by doors or in corners.

Well known tactics.

I forgot to answer your aibu 😂😂.

YANBU

I'd probably do nothing in that situation as I can't imagine watching your mum be apprehended for shoplifting would be a nice memory for a small child.

On another note, a friend of mine alerted security to a shoplifter. Shoplifter's friends followed friend around after and beat her up on the way to her car.

Subjects like these are very very personal though aren't they, a bit like politics. I would feel bad for reporting a shop lifter because I feel like most people do this out of desperation rather than for kicks. I know most would disagree with me and that's also fine because the world would go to shit if everyone thought like me. But we do need some people like me to cut people some slack.
There for the grace of God and all that.

I know someone who worked in a smaller supermarket
He was a shop assistant but hated shoplifters and was the shops unofficial store detective
He must of caught 100’s of shoplifters
He was asked by the local police to stop cos he was making their figures look bad!
He left and the shop was shut within a year
another time we where shopping in hull at st Stevens shopping mall and I heard a whole load of teens talking about what they where gonna take from which shop and how to avoid getting caught
I dragged the kids in and told a member of staff
He shrugged and was ‘yeah that’s what they do’
I was gobsmacked
It makes me wonder why I bothered paying for my shopping!

I’m also interested in people like @formerbabe and why they think like that. Shoplifting is a crime. Most people DO report crimes that they witness. Or do you just think that everything in society is nobody else’s business? Not much of a society then, is it?

I would have told the staff too.
At the and of the day prices are going up to cover the cost of items being stolen.

@CurlyhairedAssassin

I don't see a crime like shoplifting as my responsibility. It's a crime against a business. A shop is a commercial entity...it is their responsibility to put measures in place to stop that crime. I don't benefit directly from their profits so I have no interest in protecting their profits. I know nothing about the person who is shoplifting or their reasons for doing so. If a shop wants to reduce shoplifting then they can put measures in place to do so. I'm not going to involve myself.

But you could argue that a crime against a complete stranger on the street that you witness is not your responsibility either. You could just shrug and argue that if the police wanted to prevent more crimes then they should put measures in place to do so. Doesn’t make it morally right. Maybe your attitude explains why there are so many stories and videos these days of people driving round victims of hit and runs. I can’t say I like what our country has become.

In my home city our local Apple shop was robbed in broad daylight by a large gang which basically outnumbered all the staff and customers. The kids just ran in and took al the stuff and ran off with it. Obviously they weren’t very bright, it’s not the cleverest plan so they were arrested after but it was the audacity that got me. The audacity that they thought they could get away with it so they would have a go. there is no respect for other people or property anymore. People want to do what they want, whether that is behave antisoocially or walk into a shop and take what they want, and will just ignore basic laws and acceptable behaviour and morals and just do it anyway. We will become a lawless society eventually if people who want to prevent that happening don’t do something about it.

@CurlyhairedAssassin

But you could argue that a crime against a complete stranger on the street that you witness is not your responsibility either

No, it's a different situation

A shop is a business which exists to make profits. Part of the running of that business is to protect its profits. Hence, their responsibility.

Get a job as a security guard, then you can get paid for being a nosy parker.

A shop is a business which exists to make profits. Part of the running of that business is to protect its profits. Hence, their responsibility.

Yes but that business does not simply take the losses of theft off the bottom line, it is passed back to all shoppers through the prices they set. We all pay for theft.

You sound like a proper weirdo, OP!

To answer your question in the title, I would have only reported if I physically saw her shoplift. Otherwise you're speculating and could possibly humiliate a woman in public in front of her child

I wouldn't have done anything.