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.

@5128gap indeed-

Not just Greggs. Our mini Asda is the same. They've put doors on the fridges and barriers on the entrance but they still just walk in, take what they want and walk back out again, bold as anything.

I looked up business news about Greggs to see if their revenue was suffering- Greggs have reported that they did well last year, sales increased. While they closed a few branches, they opened more. It seems that their business model is that they prefer to let some thieves get away with stealing as it costs more to hire a security guard or put all items behind counters (slows down service). So, yes, other customers are paying for the thieves.

It was the same when I worked there 16 years ago. I’ve noticed a lot have security guards now but not sure they can do much either. I do feel the shop layout makes it appear easier to steal from than if they had to walk through/past a till area.

It feels like all the shops will end up having the stock behind the counter and you'll have to ask for it. Like an old fashioned grocer.

Except the shops also don't want to bother having staff. So not sure how that's going to work. Turn everywhere into a giant vending machine? Joyous.

Argos was well ahead of the game with this one 😂

That must be because they are selling the goods on. But who is buying?
I witnessed a chap selling a load of meat and ready meals to a couple of blokes outside a pub just the other day. Meat and ready meals that he will have literally just stolen from the small Tesco down the road (it happens a lot - they have a security guard but he can't be everywhere at once).
The buyers knew the stuff was stolen - but they buy it anyway. Cos it's a bargain.
I am more angry at that than someone pinching a sarnie.
(Someone stealing a sandwich is unlikely to be selling it on).

I think we'll have two tier shopping;

Option one- something with a chip in it is automatically scanned as you enter the premises, everything in your basket is then scanned before you leave and payment is automatically taken from your account.

Option 2 (for those who refuse the chip method) you are served by a bad tempered person from behind a metal grill, you pay higher prices for everything and you have to be at close quarters with those persons who previously would have been shoplifting.

That's pretty much what online shopping is.
I think that will become the norm.
No one will go to supermarkets. The supermarket will come to them.

I was in boots and this woman was on the floor bagging stuff. Security did fuck all. I asked them why and they said they weren’t allowed to challenge the woman. I said so if I take my items without paying for them you won’t challenge me. They looked pretty down beaten and I did pay but it annoys the shit out of me that I have to pay more because of theft which they can control but choose not to

I see your point but if the supermarket has to pay staff to select and assemble all the items chosen by each customer and then deliver it to their home, that's going to cost the supermarket a lot more in staff costs, vehicle costs etc.
If those extra costs outweigh the losses that they currently experience from shoplifting then they will stick with the shoplifting surely 🤷🏻‍♀️

Greggs is an amazingly charitable company - they don't necessarily boast about it either!
The Greggs foundation currently funds my school's free breakfast club and all extra curricular activities.
They also have a scheme that I regularly apply to for our families, that offers furniture, white goods and vouchers for food & clothing.

They're a bloody godsend at my school and while I absolutely understand why people are desperate enough to shoplift, I'd feel sad to see it happen in Greggs!

@Needmorelego we truly do have some scumbags going around getting away with this- whilst I'm not keen on turning vigilante I would be discreetly photographing him if I didn't know him and going to the police - mind you would they even give a shit- I think we should appoint 'petty crime' specialists at each police location whose whole raison detre is guys like this or people stealing off doorsteps - get a few volunteer undercover folks in too hanging round pubs or car parks. I'm sure plenty of people with time on their hands would quite enjoy ridding us of these scumbags

Yeah, perhaps the first person to do this was desperate. Someone saw them get away with it, and thought ‘why should I pay?’ The rest are copycats. Eventually most people will do it just because others are. We are social animals.

They’ll be well aware & adjusting their prices accordingly.

This is why our country is a joke. "Oh just let them steal it's just stuff".

I see videos in America where shopkeepers defend their property.

A couple of years ago I was up the back end of Mountain Warehouse when there was a hullabaloo; someone had come in and just grabbed an armful of stock at the front and dashed off. It's in a shopping centre but the centre security are stretched too thinly to be timely and effective. That's £££ of stock gone in seconds and probably sold on as "new with tags" on second hand apps/ market place.

I was having a coffee in Greggs a few years back, someone came in, stole a sandwich and went outside, sat down right in view of the shop, took a bite, then with the rest, fed the birds.

Yes....but usually with guns.
Do we want to go down that path ....

I saw this happening twice in Greggs in my city centre a few years ago. I expect it’s even worse now. On both occasions, staff ran out into the street after the thieves. I hope they don’t do that any more.

I would imagine the majority are entitled shits who do wtf they like abd couldn't care less.

Personally, yes.

The vast majority of people, whatever their circumstances are not thieves but as long as others make up excuses for their theft then they will continue.

Security staff should be able to tackle the thieves without fear of some ambulance chasing lawyer getting the thief a nice little undeserved payout.

Well they don't seen to be too adversely affected - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgy5r526xko

They made £2b in sales last year!!!

Maybe the security guards are just there to act as a presence to deter thieves but don’t/can’t actually do a lot.

My local supermarket has a security guard now but never had one for the last twenty years. It’s sad how things have changed.