AIBU to ask if shoplifting has effectively been decriminalised?

[IsawwhatIsaw]

I know there have been previous threads about shoplifting.
here’s another one, as I just heard our small local supermarket lost around 50 bottles of wine in a few minutes the other night.
apparently 3 men came in with big bags and set about clearing the wine shelves. Then casually walked out.
This shop has continuous shoplifting but not usually on this scale. Think more sweets, sandwiches, meat.
And there are very few staff in there now because of self service tills . Maybe the supermarket feels slashing staff numbers still works out cheaper the man stopping any theft deterrent .
so my Aibu is to ask whether shoplifting has been effectively decriminalized.

I watched a man wheel his full trolly out ,no one stopped him ,
He would of needed time to load it in to his car ,but still no one stopped him .and this is a lovely area
Police to busy policing hurty words

was that the scheme run by a third party - Co-op was also involved IIRC? Wasn’t it challenged and had to be stopped?

If the store reports each event and submits cctv the police will build a case file for numerous offences to be heard at the same time - if it’s the same offender each time. That said, the new sentencing guidelines that were introduced in March or May this year state anyone sentenced to 12 months or less unless there are extenuating circumstance will have a suspended sentence.

Yes you can pretty much do what you like. Taking away checkouts for scan & go for example.. easiest thing ever to steal a load when using that. Not to mention the amount of shops with no security or staff that don't care (don't really blame them).

I did jury service years ago and many of the witnesses were junkies. They got their drug money by stealing stuff and selling it on quickly and cheap!

But what amused me the most is that their own opinions of others that steal. Stealing from large chain shops was deemed OK. Those that stole from independent businesses were shitty. And anyone stealing from a home or an individual was just the lowest scum!!

I'm not sure going back to hands being chopped off for theft is the right answer but I do wish it carried hefty penalties.

This is particularly awful to read.

Yes, these man d it don’t bother to run out having stolen maybe £300-£400 of goods. They strolled casually out.
and yes I think the lack of any consequences for many people angers and emboldens many others.
I’m not about to take up shoplifting myself but if there are no consequences it’s normalised as ok

The chain I work for seem to be far more interested in making sure the staff aren't stealing than doing anything about shop lifters to be honest. People regularly fill baskets and walk out while we have to do everything in full view of cameras, get it checked and signed off and woe betide anyone who's till is under by £3 or more. I wouldn't mind but half the stock is literally walking out the front door!

i nipped to asda the other day with dp for a new phone charger

we went to the self service,paid and walked out

the alarms went off,so i stood and waited for someone to come over and check i had paid

5 minutes later,still nobody and staff where avoiding my eye as they walked past

another few minutes slid past and in the end,i had to hold it over my head (to avoid setting off the alarms) and walked out

sod em-i wouldnt dream of stealing but they didnt help themselves-i was stood waiting for someone to come over and check but nobody was bothered!

More worried about the same, in effect, for rape.

This.

Just because the police don’t rush to the scene with the blue lights on and arrest immediately it doesn’t mean they’ve got away with it.

Most are repeat offenders and will be identified via CCTV and prosecuted. Even if it’s a one off the perpetrator is usually known to police and can be identified from that. It’s rare for a person to just spontaneously start shoplifting in the way you describe without being known to authorities for other crimes or addictions.

Pop along to your local court. Many cases of shoplifting every single day.

I think what pp means is security guard/ staff seem to spend a fair bit of time on law abiding non shop lifters. I’ve noticed when the alarm goes off in Ilocal Tesco and you wait politely the security guard will spend a good ten minutes faffing around with your shopping / receipt whereas if you swan out and ignore it nothing happens.

I now swan out and should someone want to check my shopping they are welcome to but I’d have them unpack / repack for me.

One of my local hardware shops put a poster in the window. It has a CCTV image of a shoplifter with the caption "If you see this woman, she's a THIEF!" More shopkeepers should take that tactic.

Question is what are the sanctions? If you steal, you still have the means to get away quickly as no-one gets banned from driving for any form of theft.

Completely agree given conviction rates are what - 3-4%?
frightening .

ZoeCM · Today 18:43
One of my local hardware shops put a poster in the window. It has a CCTV image of a shoplifter with the caption "If you see this woman, she's a THIEF!" More shopkeepers should take that tactic

Im surprised Lord Hermer hasn’t threatened the shop with human rights violations.

Yes the poor staff in our local Coop are being terrorized by youth in balaklavas who just help themselves on a daily basis. One older man was asssaulted also.

I'm sure there must be far, far more that do get away with it than end up in court. The police very rarely actually get the footage. I can count on one hand the number of times our reports have been followed up on

What do you expect them to do?

Yes, along with rape as already mentioned, and burglary. It seems pointless, unless you need a crime reference number for an insurance claim.

I don't wait for even one minute, when that has happened. If security is not near the exit to deal with it, it is not my problem, I know that I have paid, as I check my receipt in the shop, before I leave, as I am sick of being overcharged, or something being scanned twice by the checkout staff.

That's reassuring.thanks for sharing

Do they do anything about non immigrants stealing by any chance, or does that not happen?