Would you stop someone stealing in a supermarket

[Crapsummer]

So apprently a teenager stole out of a small supermarket. A member of the public tried to stop this teenager and ended up getting hurt quite badly by the teenager. The teenager got away. There is now a picture of the teenager going round social media.

So I'm wondering is it worth the risk of getting hurt or even killed over stealing.

Also could the person who put up the picture of the teenager get into trouble for doing so ?

No, I’m not risking getting hurt. Having said that I have never noticed anyone shop lifting. I did see a group of people clearing out the baby formula when there was a shortage. I forced my way through the group and managed to get four tins. I took my time shopping then put the tins back before I left.

It probably depends on the circumstances (I'm a bit ashamed to say that). If I thought somebody was stealing something unnecessary (ie a mum stealing an apple for a starving child as she couldn't afford one), Vs somebody stealing an electrical appliance or expensive gadget, I'd probably turn a blind eye. If I felt I needed to intervene I'd tell security or a staff member but not confront that person directly.

To all the bleeding hearts on here most theft is done to order Especially baby products and meat there thieves not oh they might need it they don't it's to sell my friend used to buy meat from a guy at bingo who sold what he stole

My son is a policeman. And he says that you can tell the by what's been stolen . People trying to feed their kids will have say pasta, chicken nuggets , fish fingers , chips . Pasta sauce ... done to order would be 8 steaks. Big trays of meat etc .

To be honest when I have seen people steal its been stuff like a loaf of bread. Packet of bacon.

I the past I have alerted staff and would do so again. I once saw a woman in the co-op concealing food. I suggested to her that she give it to me and I would pay for it. She swore at me. I was taken aback. The staff explained that she was a regular!!! A few months later I saw her doing a runner out of the shop with staff in chasing her. She was chucking bottles of wine at them. Her accomplice was waiting in a land rover for her.

The most brazen act I've witnessed was a man fill a basket with typical shopping items, walk through the self-service till area, then, while still carrying the basket, run through the open doors and sprint across the carpark until he was out of sight.

I had a good chuckle at his sheer audacity, and I wasn't alone because the staff on the CS counter who also saw it were killing themselves laughing as well. My only real thought was that it would have probably been a bit more eco-friendly for him to have brought a reusable bag rather than making off with, and no doubt dumping a basket, but perhaps he has a shed full of them somewhere he can dump and anonymously tip the supermarket in question off as to their whereabouts.

I have a hard time mustering up any feelings of sympathy for supermarket chains that make millions in profits experiencing the consequences of petty-theft, especially when it's completely open and doesn't threaten the staff in any way.

No, I wouldn't try and stop a thief as the risk is too great. I think stealing is always wrong though. Some of the situations are very sad. I have been desperate but would never steal something myself.

DD used to work in Waitrose, said the most common thefts were from the make up aisle which is why you often see the staff there just faffing with the stock on the shelves. It's to deter the thieves.

And are most people stealing or requesting baby food to order if they’re doing alright otherwise?

I’ve seen teens stealing in supermarkets - I go up to them and say that they don’t need to do that. If they need the money I’ll buy it for them but they’re better than that. So far so good but I do agree it really does depend on the person.

Most desperate people who steal through hunger are what we used to call In retail "Grazers" they normally picked up something and ate it as they wandered through the store.

in this day and age i would not physically try to stop someone, too many now carry all number of weapons.

but i will report what is see to the staff

People were putting bags in top of groceries and alcohol and not putting stuff on the belt . In my local Aldi they caught people who they wouldn't think would be doing it , regulars who had been coming in for years . Aldi was losing ££££!