Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Shoplifting Aibu

52 replies

Evaandme · 07/12/2023 09:58

I was in Home Bargains this morning and witnessed someone put a bottle of wine down his jacket and walk out. The staff happened to walk round the corner and see as he put it in there but they didn’t say anything and let him leave. They were discussing it after around other customers and saying a man with a pram with no child came in with a blanket over the pram was doing it and that It’s happening all the time at the minute.

I thought staff challenge people when they’ve witnessed them shoplifting? Surely discussing it and letting people walk away will just encourage more shoplifting

OP posts:
Maverickess · 07/12/2023 11:03

Well as others have said, it can be putting them at risk of being attacked, they're there to keep the shelves stocked and take money in exchange for goods (mainly, they do have lots of other things to do as well) and if there isn't a security presence then it's pretty much a free for all.
Though even if there's a security presence, that's not a guarantee that it will be a deterrent, they can still attack a security guard and even if caught and detained there's not a lot in the way of concequences anyway once handed over to the police.
And then you've got the people complaining that although they present (some do anyway )with some of the characteristics that people who shop lift do, when they're watched or followed by the security guard they're all offended and make complaints, confront the security, complain to management "I'm not a shop lifter! How dare you!" Probably exactly what I'd say if I were trying to lift something and got caught.
So they can't win really.

RandomButtons · 07/12/2023 11:09

When I worked in retail we were told not to challenge. They’d rather loose a bottle of plonk than an employee. My managers exact words were “dont be a bloody martyr”

TheYearOfSmallThings · 07/12/2023 11:12

Off topic but, if I were going to steal wine, I would not go to Home Bargains.

Beautifulbutterflyy · 07/12/2023 11:19

I was in HB the other day and saw someone pick up a bottle of pop, fill their toddlers drink plastic bottle up and put the half empty bottle back on the shelf. Just thought it was so petty, just pay the 59p

Saw someone being detained by security the other day in Boots and again in The Range not too long ago and the police were called

Someone I know works in a salon and thiefs are also using their children as a distraction technique. She had her bag on the side somewhere and the older child took the bag and put it under the pram whilst the mum was talking to her at the desk. Luckily she got it back

It’s definitely only going to get worse especially with the cost of living as PP said

MaryMcCarthy · 07/12/2023 11:25

User1775 · 07/12/2023 10:42

DB chased and caught a shoplifter and was told off by shop staff and then told off by the police and threatened with a charge of assault. Madness

It's not lawful to assault someone. Them stealing something doesn't change that.

cerisepanther73 · 07/12/2023 11:30

eh?

@MaryMcCarthy
What on earth are you taking about in relation @User13579367337 post ?

First bit of your post doesn't make any sense...

Bluevelvetsofa · 07/12/2023 11:57

We had a similar conversation in Curry’s yesterday. There’s a small branch nearby and the lady who served us said that stuff goes missing every day. Some of it is dummy, like phones, some is behind a lock that the staff can open, but she said people are brazen and just walk out with whatever they can get and the staff are told not to challenge.

She mentioned putting things in a pram too. We’ve noticed that M&S put expensive food items with CCTV covering them, away from cheaper ones. Comes to something when you have to have tags on food to stop it being stolen.

MaryMcCarthy · 07/12/2023 12:58

cerisepanther73 · 07/12/2023 11:30

eh?

@MaryMcCarthy
What on earth are you taking about in relation @User13579367337 post ?

First bit of your post doesn't make any sense...

I was responding to user1775, has the quote function malfunctioned?

On my screen it's clear who I'm responding to.

JuliaJoJelly · 07/12/2023 13:27

Someone I once worked with was stabbed with a needle trying to stop a shoplifter. It is not worth your life to stop them.

I guess the low life knows that which is why they do it.

WhateverHappenedToMe · 07/12/2023 13:38

A friend of mine works in WHSmith's, and is often the only only staff member working for hours at a time. Staff have been told not to confront shoplifters.

The shop doesn't have a security guard as they "can't afford it" - but they can afford to have £300 per day of computing bits, and scratchcards, stolen daily.

GymBergerac · 07/12/2023 13:43

DH is a retail supervisor. They have a HUGE shoplifting problem, and when they have enough staff in the shop floor to allow for it, he'll stand at the front door and keep an eye out for known 'lifters and deny them access. However, they're advised not to challenge anyone seen thieving for their own safety and not to give chase if anyone gets out of the door with stolen goods. Company insurance doesn't cover them for being a "have a go hero" but the goods are covered against theft. A few years back he tried to intercept a guy stealing a very high value item and ended up getting dragged across the car park by a car. It's frustrating that people are seemingly allowed to get away with it, but it's the only way of ensuring staff safety these days 😔

User1775 · 07/12/2023 14:14

MaryMcCarthy · 07/12/2023 11:25

It's not lawful to assault someone. Them stealing something doesn't change that.

Show quote history

He didn't assault anyone, he stopped someone leaving with £200 of booze and they stopped because he is huge - they sat on the floor and waited for the police. No one was assaulted.

gamerchick · 07/12/2023 15:54

WhateverHappenedToMe · 07/12/2023 13:38

A friend of mine works in WHSmith's, and is often the only only staff member working for hours at a time. Staff have been told not to confront shoplifters.

The shop doesn't have a security guard as they "can't afford it" - but they can afford to have £300 per day of computing bits, and scratchcards, stolen daily.

Yeah I don't get that either. Our local b&q shut down. They lost nearly 55 grand a year to shoplifters but 'couldn't afford security guards'. Brain boggles.

ChateauDuMont · 07/12/2023 16:02

Joh Penfold who worked in Woolworths was stabbed to death at work in 1994. I've always remembered his murder, it was in all the news at the time.

Most retail workers are on low wages, why risk your life tackling someone who could be violent?

LightSpeeds · 07/12/2023 16:21

My daughter works in retail. She got punched in the face when she accosted a group that were shoplifting.

The advice these days is to let them get away with it!

Thatladdo · 07/12/2023 16:32

I wouldnt risk getting a bottle of wine wrapped around my head on minimum wage on a zero hours contract either!
The company will have a policy, if they are concerned enough about shoplifting they can emply security

MechyMagic · 07/12/2023 16:36

When stopping them was the done thing my dad was attacked by a crazed female claiming to have HIV with drawing pins from a notice board.

6 months (I think it was) of anti viral pills and tests. Not really worth it for some whiskey was it.

Jessie278 · 07/12/2023 17:08

My DH used to work in retail and chased a shoplifter out as they had a massive amount of stolen goods on them. The bloke pulled a needle out on him so he kicked the needle out of his hand and got the stuff back. Bloke was arrested and my DH got a massive bollocking for chasing him out the shop.
They just write it as a loss.

Jessie278 · 07/12/2023 17:11

Also think it's advised to let them go. As a few years ago a security guard chased a man out the shop and I think he fell on him and the guy had a bottle? Inside his coat. It got crushed and stabbed him and he bled to death. I'm sure they nearly done the security guard for manslaughter but I may be mistaken.

OneTC · 07/12/2023 17:24

We get loads of shoplifters but we're a small independent company and can't afford to just leave them to it.

We have put most stealable stuff away but can't move the whole alcohol department for example. We actively prevent people leaving with stuff, even though this frequently results in fights

hookiewookie29 · 07/12/2023 17:24

My daughter works for Morrisons. No way would she tackle a shoplifter for £7 an hour!

OneTC · 07/12/2023 17:26

MaryMcCarthy · 07/12/2023 11:25

It's not lawful to assault someone. Them stealing something doesn't change that.

Show quote history

You're allowed to use reasonable force to protect yourself and your stuff.

Finestreason · 07/12/2023 17:27

TheYearOfSmallThings · 07/12/2023 11:12

Off topic but, if I were going to steal wine, I would not go to Home Bargains.

😂 😂 😂 😂

BashfulClam · 07/12/2023 18:09

We were always told to step away. If someone had a weapon and asked you to
open your till, open the drawer and step back. We are told the shop was insured and the cash could be replaced. I was punched over a dodgy cheque.

C1N1C · 07/12/2023 18:15

Sounds like an easy job. Hired for security but told to just stand there and watch things get stolen.