Saw someone stealing from a Foodbank point in Tesco

[Monty27]

Rant
I couldn't believe my eyes I seriously couldn't. His appearance looked clean and smart I just saw him from behind and I thought he was putting in a donation and if my eyes didn't deceive me he actually walked off with an item and put it in his shopping bag. I didn't report or challenge him it was so shocking.
Ill email Tesco and the Foodbank about it.
But just how low can society get?

Well I know first hand which is different to the media.

I do know the armed police who get paid not a penny more than I do are giving their guns back and saying fuck it . It's not worth it .

I'm not in the met . Thank fuck .

👌

I do wonder though when there's another terror attack , or when someone decides to use their car as a weapon - who's going to stop them ? Because the cops I know down there aren't going to stay armed . Who would want that job ? Paid the same as me for carrying that responsibility? No ta ! And they're saying the same . You won't have armed police for much longer . No one will do it .

I'm clean and smart looking and also poor. I'm well educated, articulate and have a decent job. For various reasons outside my control, I am completely and utterly skint and panicking about the winter. Should I stop washing and rough myself up a bit?

No . But yku shouldn't steal from the collection basket and go to a good bank like others do .

I'm sat here without butter or margarine in the fridge , I'm living off the dregs of my freezer. I still would stoop to Nicki g from the donations . Horses for courses.

Tesco expect their customers to donate their shopping to food banks when they waste 100,000 + tons of food yearly.

Put the items in the food bank bins before paying for it and let Tesco cover the cost.

Kind of begrudgingly agree with this . I think all supermarkets could do so much better in terms of waste .

People who need food banks are referred to them. They don’t need to take the items at the supermarket.

Tesco do not expect customers to donate to the food bank. Tesco and the Foodbank have an agreement to have a donation points in their shops. As do many other supermarkets.
It's not a freebie bin for all and sundry either.
This service is voluntary in local communities for those in hardship
@wonderlizard

Supermarkets could do more for food poverty but I agree it's pretty low to steal from a food bank - if you need a food bank go to one - but don't steal it at source !

@Monty27

They wouldn't put the bins there if they didn't expect their customers to donate their shopping.

They waste 100,000 + tons of food a year. Their profits trebled last year but still 90% of all donations for food banks come from the general public. How many businesses closed forcing families into poverty because they opened a store nearby. But still they expect you to donate your food shop?

I'm not saying don't donate - just take some items off the shelves and pop them in the donation bin and let the CF Tesco pay for the items.

@wonderlizard I don't think you realise the concept of Foodbank point provision by supermarkets. It's a charitable free service to foodbanks. We know supermarkets top up charities and like to be seen to do so, not enough in terms of profit but that's irrelevant to the discussion.

@Monty27

Thank you but I understand the concept and also disagree with Tesco expecting customers to donate when they are making huge profits at their customers and suppliers expense.

it's also sad that your average folk wander around concerned that they spotted a man taking a small item from a food bank donation point when Tesco themselves are a contributor to the problem of poverty.

During lockdown my husband lost his job, I was on maternity pay SMP to be specific. I have never been so broke in all my life. We didn't qualify for any benefits aside from job seekers (not the means tested one). This also meant we didn't qualify for food banks.

I was fortunate that my mum bought formula so my son didn't go without. But we did. If I saw someone take food from a food bank collection point I would assume he needed it. I didn't steal but I can see why someone would.

Let's face it people have donated that food for others in need. He obviously felt in need!

MyLittle I am sorry to hear of the position you were in but did you actually ask for a referral to a Food Bank or did you assume you were not entitled to help? I read so many misconceptions around FBs on here.

I volunteer at an independent FB and we would never turn anyone away ... although I do understand that some FBs have much stricter rules.

I also collect donations from the FB points in supermarkets and honestl if someone really needed a tin of beans or whatever from the bin then I hope they would take it ... it's actually made me realise that it would be useful to have information about how to access the FB available at the collection point.

This
It’s not ok.

If everyone did it then those who really need it wouldn’t be able to access it because it would all be gone? 🤷🏼‍♀️ This could be a wasted journey for someone.

@Suzi888 as they say, let (s)he who is without sin cast the first stone. I would say factually neither you nor I know the reasons this person did this. But if you feel happy to throw the first stone, and confident you do know this person's thoughts and reasoning, and that you are entirely without error yourself, good on you.

I guess I say the same to @smileandsing too.

Must have been needing it. 😂 People are so naive here.

Our Sainsbury’s has them right by the double doors as you Come in but before you step into the main store, if you see what I mean. I’ve never actually seen anyone stealing from there but wondered if it happens. When I used to go to Morrison’s their collection point was a large pallet at the end of one of the tills or you could buy a ‘mystery bag’ at customer service. I digress, the man shouldn’t have been stealing. Times are tough for everyone and the food is for the food bank to dish out appropriately so that as many people as possible get enough. What I’m saying might not be what others want to hear but it’s what I feel.

Then he should go to the foodbank!

If it seen as normal behaviour to just steal from the donations basket, people will stop donating, that is probably why there aren't so many donations now, maybe a better idea to just give straight the food bank instead

The reason there are fewer donations is people can afford less, the government is succeeding in its mission to level us all down to the ground.

If everyone did that there'd be nothing to donate to the food banks. Yes, he might have been needy or he could've been a chancer who wasn't in need of it at all. Either way, not right to just help yourself.

@Monty27 If you report, are you hoping this person will be arrested? What do you hope to get out of reporting?

I couldn't summon enough outrage to try to get someone arrested for that, myself.