People openly stealing in Greggs

[Xraytime]

Whilst I was in the queue for a coffee, 4 different people came in and took several sandwiches, doughnuts and drinks.

They were not together.

I feel like Greg’s need to put every behind the counter, I can’t see how it’s sustainable long term.

I see this at different Greggs aswell but there will normally be just one person. Today was shocking.

I can only hope they were genuinely starving. But if they were addicts then they're not well. Not that I agree with stealing.

I can imagine they might end up reconfiguring the worst hit stores so everything is behind the tills and a big screen. Like those really rough booze shops where you can't touch anything.

It's a shame but life is getting pretty bad, it's getting worse, not better.

The price of inequality, a divided society and breakdown of trust and social norms. Rich people don't notice because they don't shop in Greggs, and buy their way out of crime, anti social behaviour etc. Public service that keep social order and things ticking over are defunded so we don't tax the rich. Ironically, the rich benefit from more equality too, not least improved mental health: equalitytrust.org.uk/why-more-equality/

People very boldly steal these days because shops won't call the police because the police won't do anything.

So the companies just put the prices up for all us normal, law-abiding people.

What a time to be alive. Fucking scum

Some Greggs have changed so everything is behind the counter. Even the crisps.
Ironically Greggs is one of the companies that sometimes donates leftovers to community fridge schemes - ones where anyone can go to get free food.
If people are in genuine need there are ways to get food without stealing.

I think Greggs will have to put everything behind the counter now.

Yes, I have watched this happen in one the greggs in our town. The staff say they are not allowed to challenge it.

This country is screwed and it's only going to get worse.

Have you told the employees- what was their reaction? It may be worth giving them your feedback about where the items should be placed. I'd report it to the police (our local police has a website where you report the crime online so that you don't have to call 999 or call an officer out to the shop).

I once worked in a fashion shop where someone came in out of the blue and stole about 5 frilly summer dresses on display. No idea who it was- we didn't have CCTV (it was a chain) and it wasn't worth the expense in those days to hire a security guard. The sandwiches and other food stolen in Greggs wouldn't be worth as much as the dresses (which although the most high priced items in the shop would be less than £180 each in today's money).

I must admit that I would be reluctant to buy anything from that Greggs immediately after that as I would feel like I was subsidising the thefts- unless I was really craving a sausage roll or other baked item badly! We moved the display of the dresses and other high price items after that to a more visible area near the till and didn't have any more thefts for the rest of that month.

@dailygrowl the staff will be well aware it's happening but there's nothing they can safely do unfortunately.

I think the staff know, a few years ago when I saw it I told them. But now it’s like pigesteaaling chips. They just come in and take a sandwich. Next person comes in and does the same. Whilst everyone is queuing

I thought here there is a safety net and now a Labour government? What is happening because we pay a lot of taxes so not my fault the government do not use it property.

I know people who work in Gregg's. Staff are well aware, often recognise repeat offenders and company policy is not to try and stop them (due to risk). Some shops are set up so all things can go behind the counter, others are not. It is a small space and staff are already having to serve, make drinks/breakfast sandwhiches and fulfil just eat orders. Having to grab sandwhiches/drinks etc from out the back will just add to this.

Not just Greggs.
At our local garden centre in their quite posh café they have moved their entire cold drinks section behind the counter because of constant theft.
It was originally as you started to queue but they lost so much stock they had to move it.

Are you rich, or poor/ordinary? Because our taxes are often regressive eg VAT and Council Tax, so yes, if the latter you are paying too much in order that the rich can pay less: www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2022/04/07/the-very-wealthy-in-the-uk-really-do-pay-much-less-tax-than-they-should/

Stealing from Greggs is punishment in itself

This happens every day in Croydon, but 3/5 of the branches have a security guard now. When he’s not there for whatever reason, people openly take. The staff can’t challenge, and why would they risk violence when they’re probably on a low wage.

have to be bloody desperate to eat one of those disgusting sandwiches

I hate this so much. The general enshittification, living in a low-trust, dystopian, litter-strewn shithole where the only laws actually enforced are murder (maybe) and social media posts.

It's not inequality or the cost of living crises. It's the complete breakdown of the social contract and an absolute absence of morality and shame.

Don't be ridiculous.
It's food. Perfectly fine food.

Don’t be silly. They’re quite nice! And much fresher than the supermarket ones.

I expect those stealing are desperate.

They have a Greggs outlet store by us where they sell discounted products that may otherwise be thrown away, the aim of the outlets is to give back to local communities and reduce food wastage. Maybe they should sell this even cheaper to homeless people as a way of combating theft.

My first day at my new job in Birmingham I witnessed a pile of sirloin steaks fall out of someone's rucksack at Sainsbury's! It happens everywhere. I'm sick of it.

What do you define as 'using it properly'? The Labour government, with the best will in the world can only go so far in using taxes to alleviate poverty before people start kicking up fuss about having to 'subsidise the scroungers' and decide to vote Tory/Reform next time round. They are treading a line between trying to address social issues while not alienating those who give them power. Tackling poverty is a long game and it's not been something that's aligned with the values of the government of the last 14 years. I believe this government will do better job of it than the previous administration, but its not a task that can be completed overnight.

It was saying on breakfast tv today a shoplifter was earning a grand a day in shoplifting!!

Great post 👍