At the amount of shoplifting that apparently goes on

[paperbattles]

Just been to the local garden centre, which has new security sensors, CCTV and security guard - the checkout person explained that so much shoplifting has gone on that they have had to install extra precautions. She said if an item can be moved people will take it, and loads of people do it - top of the list scented candles, alcohol and flowers. Am I completely naive to think that most people are honest and the odd few make a mistake or even steal a small item; or is it not thought to be bad behaviour? what is the reasoning? trying to understand what makes people do it, where do they draw the line?

DS works in a restaurant where a large group got up and left without paying as they didn’t like the service. Not without first eating and drinking to the tune of hundreds of pounds.

On a related subject, what are you supposed to do if you set off the beeper when you exit through the security panels? I keep setting Lidl Sainsbury Boots and WHSmith off when I wear a particular new coat, must have metal in the toggles, but no staff ever approach me to check anything. I loiter for a couple of minutes feeling like a chump then just leave.

i work in a charity shop and you would be amazed how much shoplifting goes on in there you would think they wouldnt target a charity but they have no moral code whatsoever

The scan as you shop in Tesco is such an easy way to steal someone I know does it and it's shocking! They do random checks but she manages to steal so much it's terrible

I've always thought how easy it would be for me to steal. I guess I look "respectable" and not once when the self scanner gets its knickers in a twist about the weight in the bag has anyone ever checked that i didn't actually put more than I scanned in my bag. I've set alarms off randomly and, despite me standing there waiting for a member of staff, I've always been waved through without checking.

The only thing I've ever stolen was that once I put 22 pence in my sweetie mix and told the cashier I had 20 pence worth in the bag. I still feel guilty about that 30 years on.

There must be some way they keep tabs on the scan as you shop thing

"Middle class mums, young professionals, mums with prams"
"our traveller friends"
"Thieving scumbags off their faces"

Why are some groups of shoplighters, deserving of being 'othered' and labeled, but some are still respectable and part of Society?

Got a Ferreo Rocher pyramid thing for DP for Xmas.
It was security tagged and the lady on the till said they’d already had two stolen.

I must have ‘The Face’. I’m forever being stopped in supermarket doorways and having my shopping checked.

I look like Velma from Scooby Doo...

yes, about thinking it is a victimless crime! an ex of mine had his entire stock of mugs and espresso cups in his kitchen shoplifted from Starbucks, he would grab a coffee, go upstairs (his usual Starbucks was a two storey one on Oxford Street in London), have his coffee then put the cup or mug in his work bag. He was never caught, he told me he did it because it annoyed him to give many to a big corporation (despite him working for one!!), so was offsetting the cost of his coffee with shoplifting so they would not make a profit out of him! I refused to go out for coffee with him, ever, in case he did this (plus, Starbucks coffee is shit!)

I've worked in retail as well as the junkies stealing to sell the alcoholics stealing to feed their habit there were many many people who steal for the thrill and because they can. We had a local lady in her late 50s came in most days I saw her steal chewing gum often this was after spending on average £30-40 on groceries. She would also steal the odd chocolate bar. My manager didn't want to say anything to her as she was nice
We had a lady who came in for wine most evenings. I watched her on the cctv one night she would put a bottle in her bag and then pay for another one 😂

Having worked in retail for many years, the biggest part of the job is to stop theft, both sides of the counter.

Why on earth was my post deleted?????

There are many types of shoplifter and we certainly don't target black people. It is never ever done by people desperate to feed their families though

Weird that there are so many deletions on this thread.

I noticed a guy at Boots not too long ago picking up a fuckload of No 7 or Oil of Olay eye cream or whatever, obviously to sell on. He was absolutely brazen. I don't think I'd considered how much shoplifting goes on before I saw this.

Our local Iceland at one point used to keep the large blocks of cheese in security boxes because shoplifters would target those and the joints of meat.

I saw a girl nick something in Boots the other day - just a cereal bar. I was sitting nearby waiting for my imminent flu jab appt. She spent ages picking them up and putting them down before slipping one into an evidently new Boots plastic bag. She saw me watching her and I could tell she knew I'd seen.

It's evidently rife, but I do think it's easy to do it inadvertently. I once walked out of Ryman's - having paid for other items - with a pack of large Jiffy Bags still under my arm. Still don't understand how the assistant didn't notice! I was a good distance from the shop before I realised - went cold at what might have happened - went back and paid.

Might add that as a young teen I had a few school friends who did it. Once bumped into one who,looked terrified - told me she'd just nicked a jumper from M&S - before haring off. She was so petrified in case anyone had seen, if I'd ever been tempted, that would have been enough to put me off for life.

Oh, and bloody self scanners - I was recently stopped at an Asda exit, because a pack of steak had a security tag on it - small and not obvious - and the self scanner hadn't summoned an assistant to take it off! And I hadn't bothered to take my receipt, so I had to wait while they went through a bin of them to find it. Talk about mortifying! ALWAYS TAKE YOUR RECEIPT WHEN USING SELF SCANNERS!!

I think there has been a general breakdown in people being moral because they have seen politicians and bankers get away with being completely immoral and committing crimes whilst lecturing the little people how to behave. Add to that the reduction in police numbers and a general breakdown or certain moral values in society and you have a recipe for disaster.

I once struggled at the check out with a hand basket, I'd only gone in for a few things but I'd also picked up a pack of kitchen rolls which I held under my arm, hence the struggle. It was only as I was walking away that I realised about them, neither I nor the check out assistant had noticed them.

Have worked in a charity shop and in retail proper- can confirm that if it's not nailed down, it'll probably get nicked. By public or staff. When I worked for a brand under the umbrella of a huge two letter sports wear retailer (the one that says they are "monarch of sports shoes") the company loss prevention team the Stasi reckoned that 8/10 staff would shop the workplace, and of them 6/10 would steal from work. The security measures were insane- and needed. Although ime of staff crime it's been far more money/fraud driven at management level than about stock. Dodgy money and cash tricks are also a thing.

Most theft: When I worked in a charity shop, someone stole the tv we were given by the charity, the one with the promo-info video on. So it was a fixture, not even stock, showing a video about how to help children with brain injuries.

If anyone wants any weird shop lifter trivia, just say! Some of it's quite fascinating.

What a lovely comment from the pp who said about a lot of shoplifting is done by retail staff. I work in a shop and neither i nor any of my colleagues would do such a thing.

My supervisor was sacked for stealing, there were 3 of us working under her and we were all called into the office and asked if we had signed the staff receipt thingy for some items which she had taken out of the store.

When we bought something we got a discount but had to have a signature and show the docket on the way out of the staff exit. She didn't have one. Security was also plain clothes 'shoppers' so it seems they had been keeping an eye on her purchases and what was rung up on the till too.

Let’s be realistic. Retailers are very well aware that self-service checkouts are an open invitation to shoplift.

They accept this because despite the increase in ‘shrinkage’, the tills stil save ££££ on staff wages.

The worst in shoplifting I have witnessed was someone walking out of a well known supermarket with a trolley full of food and other expensive household items. Think washing power cereal packets and bottles. All the big non tagged items... Luckily someone noticed and security guard gave chase. Trolley was left in car park but the guys got away.

I used to work in a children’s hospital where patients relatives would steal things from the ward.

One year we lost TVs from the children’s cancer ward. This is in the days when TVs were big bulky things.

Smaller items like kettle, toasters, extension leads, jars of coffee and hairdryers would get stolen all the time.

I wonder what goes through people’s minds “ oh the the NHS were so amazing saving ny child/newphew/ grandchild’s life , I must see what I can steal from them”.