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AIBU?

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Original poster

"Shoplifter: Police need to stop people like me"

80 replies

timpanie · 01/10/2023 09:29

"A persistent shoplifter has said the police need to do more to stop people like her stealing from businesses.

[...]

She thinks the police could do more to combat the actions of people like her.

"When people shoplift, they [police] should start putting pictures of the shoplifters on the internet, maybe on the front doors so people can see 'warning', you know, 'shoplifter'.

"I don't think police quite do their job properly.""

From here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66974506

I'm hoping she was prodded into saying that (i.e. asked by the journalist whether the authorities could do more about shoplifting) rather than it being spontaneous but I can't help but despair a little. So much commentary on crime is now a complex analysis of who else could be blamed other than the perpetrator. Can people not take responsibility for their own actions?

CCTV images of thieves in Adrian Bhagat's shop, in Nottingham

Shoplifter: Police need to stop people like me

A persistent shoplifter says stealing is easy and that police could do more to stop people like her.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66974506

OP posts:
Mydpisgrumpierthanyours · 01/10/2023 19:23

Shop staff won't do anything about shoplifters. It's not worth it for minimum wage.

AtmosAtmos · 01/10/2023 19:43

if security guards don’t have much or any power why do the large supermarkets bother employing them? (They seem to have been keen to sack as many as possible from tills etc)

honeybeetheoneandonly · 01/10/2023 20:15

I always shoplift my caviar and champagne. I mean who can afford it these days? What am I meant to do, just go without? Sheesh, what would the neighbours think???

LittleGreenDuck · 01/10/2023 20:44

I was in Sainsburys last week and witnessed a chap lift an entire box of cheese strings and head for the exit. The security guard saw him coming, stepped out from behind his little lectern thing and held out his hands. The shoplifter handed over the cheese and kept walking out of the shop without breaking stride, there was no effort whatsoever to apprehend him.
I've also witnessed another man get stopped after setting off the alarms. He handed over his rucksack, the security guard removed the three bottles of champagne and gave back the rucksack!

Original poster
timpanie · 01/10/2023 21:00

AtmosAtmos · 01/10/2023 19:43

if security guards don’t have much or any power why do the large supermarkets bother employing them? (They seem to have been keen to sack as many as possible from tills etc)

I expect their presence must still deter enough people that the supermarkets think it's worth it, but it sounds like the effect is diminishing all the time.

OP posts:
MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 01/10/2023 21:39

CornishClott · 01/10/2023 19:00

I believe major retailers have contacted the Government asking for a crackdown

In what way?

Vitriolinsanity · 01/10/2023 23:32

Listening to a spokesman from JL on the news this afternoon, it's bring in the full force of the law. Their point was that thieves aren't stealing as a consequence of the cost of living crisis, but because they know full well that they can take what the fuck they like knowing there's not a copper within a thousand miles.

I worked in a naice dress shop in Bluewater. One afternoon two women walked in and took the entire gondola. That's 4 arms of dresses with at least 6 £100 garments on each.

I know that in JL thieves have literally wheeled out an entire rack of Barbour jackets.

Vitriolinsanity · 01/10/2023 23:34

But actually the theft is besides the point, it's the abuse as detailed by a PP where staff are spat at as well as verbally abused and physically threatened.

People that make £11 an hour. What the fuck!!!!

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 01/10/2023 23:45

Crackdown? Full force of the law??

It's already in operation...I work in a custodial setting. We get people in for theft all the time

They are inside for. A couple of weeks snd back out again, repeat repeat

It's most likely to fund addictions nothing to do with the cost of living

margotrose · 02/10/2023 05:02

AtmosAtmos · 01/10/2023 19:43

if security guards don’t have much or any power why do the large supermarkets bother employing them? (They seem to have been keen to sack as many as possible from tills etc)

They seem to work as a deterrent.

TodayInahurry · 02/10/2023 06:35

It is a terrible thing that the police are not actin on this. I have read quite a bit about it and a great deal is organised crime. Shops are shutting in areas where there is a problem and staff losing their jobs.

Tackling offenders, who are often very violent is down to the police who should do their job. But I agree, supermarkets need to take more action to make their shops more secure

SueDonnym · 02/10/2023 06:52

So how many police should be stood at exit doors for the full working day in any shop that has suffered shoplifting remembering that some thieves can be violent - 2, 3, more - yes I'm sure that is possible. Plus once apprehended and arrested the culprits get a slap on the wrist, never jail. Hence waste of police time.

SueDonnym · 02/10/2023 06:55

I think that the CCTVs are a disadvantage nowadays - in the past someone hit your DF, DSis - you or some other burly individual was sent round to duff them up. Job done. Now if you dared to shout at, threaten, let alone hit another person, thief or not, you'd be at risk of jail for threatening behaviour or grievous bodily harm. Bad people know their rights.

Roselilly36 · 02/10/2023 07:43

law needs to change, perhaps more power for private security staff? Possibly Benefit sanctions, paying back five times the value of the stolen goods as (like a postal traffic offences type system).

I walked into a store last week, two young women walking out pushing pushchairs, alarm went off, member of staff asked them to come back into the store please they refused, I carried on with my shop by the time I get to the till police were at the counter taking details and they had followed the women on CCTV to the car park, so I would assume they have their reg number.

It is so annoying for elderly/disabled customers too, stores in my city, are closing lots of entrances/exits, as they are having to have security on each of these. This is really inconvenient for people with mobility problems.

I think most of us would sympathise with someone who was desperate and stole a sandwich but these is ridiculous please are stealing items to sell on. And it will only get worse with Xmas approaching.

Having said that I wouldn’t want my adult child, on min wage, approaching a shop lifter, no way. Far too much of a risk.

PreetyinPurple · 02/10/2023 08:07

Well end up with more and more smart shops where you have to tap in a card to enter.
At DDs school there was a woman who had a book who was taking orders for Christmas.

I know my friends who worked at HMV said there was little they could do, the police did start banning frequent offenders from town instead. They always had someone at the entrance to spot people with foil lined bags.

bluetongue · 02/10/2023 09:13

It hasn’t always been this bad has it?

I shoplifted a few times as a teenager (small, cheap items) but then came to my senses and haven’t done it since. I’m sure it used to be more limited to bored teens and frustrated middle aged housewives. These days it’s a whole cottage industry and of course is honest people pay for it.

EasternStandard · 02/10/2023 09:21

PreetyinPurple · 02/10/2023 08:07

Well end up with more and more smart shops where you have to tap in a card to enter.
At DDs school there was a woman who had a book who was taking orders for Christmas.

I know my friends who worked at HMV said there was little they could do, the police did start banning frequent offenders from town instead. They always had someone at the entrance to spot people with foil lined bags.

I haven’t heard about smart shops but maybe tech could stop it. Tap card to get in, if you walk out debit the £

margotrose · 02/10/2023 09:33

supermarkets need to take more action to make their shops more secure

Such as what, exactly?

listsandbudgets · 02/10/2023 09:54

honeybeetheoneandonly · 01/10/2023 20:15

I always shoplift my caviar and champagne. I mean who can afford it these days? What am I meant to do, just go without? Sheesh, what would the neighbours think???

I believe Harrods run a nice line in designer dresses... fancy a trip to London?

seriously though the police need to start attending and / or security guards need to be given stronger powers to detain shop lifters. Our local M and S food Hall has such a bad problem with it that they regularly shut off one set of doors. we get approached by people in te streets offering to sell us champagne and steak .. they even go into the local pubs and approach people at tables. it's so blatant but people are frightened of them.

I don't blame.the supermarkets for security tagging fish, meat , cheese etc. The co op sometimes put some things in great big plastic boxes that are removed when you pay.. probably means they steal the boxes too but at least it limits what they can carry

LodiDodi · 02/10/2023 10:02

It is not good but I don't feel sorry for the supermarkets. They made record profits during the pandemic and didn't pass any of it on to their slave-like workers. They have used inflation as an excuse to take the piss with prices, to be honest even with the theft factored in, they are probably still making the same.

Ponoka7 · 02/10/2023 10:15

BBno4 · 01/10/2023 10:13

I think shops should have powers to hold people until closing time IF it is 100% proven that they shoplifted. In little shop jails like an old western movie. That would be a deterant.

Shops could ask for ID at the door or proof of cash/card, no more browsing. You can browse online.

Only allow a certain amount of people in like covid times and you have to be let out of the shop by someone you can't just leave.

There's around 20% of shoplifters who have neurological issues. Then there's MH issues, then addiction. How many deaths would you be ok with? Or do you propose that a security guard has the powers to strip a woman so the suicide risk isn't there? Having a cash/credit card in your possession doesn't mean that it's got credit on it. Being detained might be a fantasy of yours, but it's a bizarre thing to want for all.

JustAnotherPoster00 · 02/10/2023 10:36

Roselilly36 · 02/10/2023 07:43

law needs to change, perhaps more power for private security staff? Possibly Benefit sanctions, paying back five times the value of the stolen goods as (like a postal traffic offences type system).

I walked into a store last week, two young women walking out pushing pushchairs, alarm went off, member of staff asked them to come back into the store please they refused, I carried on with my shop by the time I get to the till police were at the counter taking details and they had followed the women on CCTV to the car park, so I would assume they have their reg number.

It is so annoying for elderly/disabled customers too, stores in my city, are closing lots of entrances/exits, as they are having to have security on each of these. This is really inconvenient for people with mobility problems.

I think most of us would sympathise with someone who was desperate and stole a sandwich but these is ridiculous please are stealing items to sell on. And it will only get worse with Xmas approaching.

Having said that I wouldn’t want my adult child, on min wage, approaching a shop lifter, no way. Far too much of a risk.

Classiest much, fucking benefit sanctions 🙄

Roselilly36 · 02/10/2023 11:35

@JustAnotherPoster00 I am not knocking benefit claimants at all, I have a severe disability and receive a benefit, but I wouldn’t ever dream of shoplifting. What do you suggest?

OneTC · 02/10/2023 11:58

Having a cash/credit card in your possession doesn't mean that it's got credit on it.

Or that it's their card

Booklover40 · 02/10/2023 12:03

In the local Tesco near my ds’s uni it’s so bad that they have security on the door and you have to show them your receipt as you’re leaving. Ds said when some girls in front of him failed to produce theirs the guard took their shopping off them.

I bet he wouldn’t do this if it was a burly/rough looking bloke though.

This is in what is considered a very “posh” place.

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