I have worked i retail any years food, fashion and non foods.
city centre fashion was most scary as proper gangs 3 organised, own detaggers, fild lined bags, could get nasty or would nick then bring back for refund/exchange.
Worked for 3 different supermarket chains between 1996-2008.
I have worked in some rough areas.
one seemingly posh city in uk had huge homeless problem had more death threats there than other stores.
worked north, south east, south west and wales.
worked on sink estates very deprived areas
urban areas with large drugs problems
nice middle class suburban areas.
seen shoplifting all 3.
quite a few elderly
drunks/addicts
for me depends on item but do feel sorry for people pinching food.
sometimes over caution ruins shopping as security guard veiws everyone as potential shoplifter,thinking local co-op mans not too bad but big tesco and sainsburys total jobs worth.
security guards well they seem to fall into mainly 2 types useless couldent catch criminal if they tried or have go hero vigilantee types who also bouncers on side wit some sort hero complex and show no compasion /discretion.
Would be interesting see if shoplifting gone up since cuts I suspect it probably has.
A woman with over 50k husband could easily be financially abused no child benefit I guess.
Food banks I think are specific days and 3times limit and have to have referall from job centre-our nearest is miles away or hv so when doctors surgery open hv out mostly.
Our local food bank used to be 6miles over in next town and people used to walk each way s bus is £6. Think bristol only has 3-4 and its large city.
husband was unemployed for 3weeks ver summer housing took 10weeks to process, tax credits messed up all council used to say is you can go food bank thankfully we senisble wit food shops and keep house well stocked so we managed as buy mix of reduced go most evenings and try get most I can for money and buy value lines.
I have noticed the bigs ones mostly sainsburys tesco worst culprits seem to be increasing basic value lines by 10-30p someone cant downshift a brand if they buying value already not sure if tesco finest going up by same amount but seems morally wrong. As I buy a lot of value lines the prices are very erratic never the same each week we really have to shop around.
Its is true mangers can get disiplinary over stockloss but companies have targets not sure how they base that target based on previous years normally its low and unrealistic.
I think insurance bumps up due to false claims but food dont think does factor in theft. Theres heck of alot of waste and some chains really stingy with reductions its like they rather see it in bin makes no sense.
Corporate crime is lot less hidden muh of whats happened in financial sector since the rash seems criminal to me.
im sat on fence over this one. I would never steal but can see why people do.
Thinking this xmas the pressure , the ottness, the expectations, hype seems much wrse than say 5-10years ago.
Xmas seems to start in november and seen freinds spend obscene amounts of money on christmas freuently posting on fb about their luxury new tree decs more fool them they 70%off monsoon ones in jan.
Their endless lists of what they brought each child.
we havent had turkey for last few years as cant justify the cost of free range norfolk black we probably spend loads but get more for money.
we have had some frugal weeks mostly before payday I have been in lidls with my last fiver. I read threads on mse feed your familiy for £20 a week and jack monroe was feeding herself and small boy on 10quid a week.
What people maybe need to ask themselves is how would they cope if they just had £10? what would they buy, cook, where would they shop?
This thread reminds me need give donation new local foodbank as saw basket in church.
I know the food bank system exists so people dont take piss but maybe soup kitchens or place where people can get meals might be good as some dont have electricity or ovens.
I wonder how patchy provision is in the holidays?