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Original poster

Robbing from Tesco with impunity *edited by MNHQ*

362 replies

KatherineSwynford1403 · 11/08/2023 09:14

I just got off a bus outside a Tesco that is a short walk from where I work to buy some yogurt and fruit for breakfast. On the bus there were three horrendous guys - loud, under the influence, scruffy, swearing, F-ing and Jeffing across the aisles at each other. They got off at the same stop - well, burst off the bus laughing - and burst into Tesco. I watched them saunter up to the booze aisle laughing as they went, nick a bottle of spirits each and walk out laughing in front of all the staff (floorwalking).

I challenged one of the members of staff (a big guy who could handle himself) as to if he was going to let them get away with it. He says they come in every morning and help themselves and nobody is allowed to touch or challenge them. They've contacted the police who don't want to know.

I told him "Right, see you then, I'm helping myself to these strawberries and this yogurt, have a nice day!" and he said I was OK to do that!!! Of course I told him I was joking and I paid.

How in hell have we got to this state of affairs in this country? Or my town specifically?

OP posts:
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Piranhaha · 18/08/2023 11:14

I’ve seen people just walk out of a supermarket with a basket full of stuff. Staff felt they weren’t paid enough to care. It didn’t hurt them personally and they weren’t going to put themselves at risk to stop it. This is what happens when everything becomes depersonalised and huge companies own everything - individuals don’t care any more.

Kendodd · 18/08/2023 11:33

Flatulence · 11/08/2023 10:00

Crime is legal now, thanks to thirteen years of Tory rule axing police funding.
My local force don't even bother to investigate most domestic burglaries; they'll give even less of a shit about shop lifting.
And even if someone did get nicked, the courts have been so massively underfunded, the perpetrators would likely be waiting about 2 years for a magistrates' court appearance.

And come the next election, millions of people will be voting for more of the same. While at the same time the majority of the press will be scaring the public with tales of how terrible Labour would be. I'm in my 50s, life in this country was much, much, much better when Labour was in charge. And I'm not even a Labour voter and haven't voted Labour since the Iraq war.

Kendodd · 18/08/2023 11:36

littleripper · 11/08/2023 10:10

And yet when I complained that WHSmith had porn in the children's section I was detained by security and the Police arrived within 10 mins. Odd eh?

How did that happen?
You complained to a staff member, they then called security who (illegally) detained you and called the police? There must be more to this story than that?

Original poster
KatherineSwynford1403 · 18/08/2023 12:51

I went in this morning and on those shelves that they stole the liquor from last week was one sad, solitary bottle of Malibu along with a notice that if you steal from the store you risk finding yourself in court.

I guess they don't like pina colada or getting caught in the rain so they just left the bottle where it was.

OP posts:
Original poster
KatherineSwynford1403 · 21/09/2023 09:07

I went in this morning for the first time in almost three weeks due to holidays and they now have a security person working there.

OP posts:
HenriettaBaguetta · 21/09/2023 09:14

I don't think the staff member quite meant that they 'weren't allowed to stop them' but more like they've been advised not to put themselves at risk by doing so.

And yes, this is the way things are now in many areas. Security guards and putting alarms on baby milk, booze and meat are just used as deterrents that will put some people off but many will still do it.

Underfunding the Police force for years, increasing drug and other social problems and a social media culture where workers/security guards/Police can get dragged through the mud and have their lives altered because an out of context clip was posted on TilTok play huge parts.

PennywisePoundFoolish · 21/09/2023 09:24

The supermarket I work for makes a big thing that staff safety is far more important and we're not to take risks. There's been a huge increase in organised shoplifters being armed, to the point the Senior Head Office Director did a video specfically telling staff not to put themselves in danger.
The Reddit Tesco is worth a nose (I don't work for Tesco)

Kweeky · 21/09/2023 21:27

Tesco cutting back on staff so it’s mostly self checking out doesn’t help.

Kweeky · 22/09/2023 06:32

Also they could make the doors less open - huge doorways at the moment- perhaps narrow doorways so people leaving the shop had to queue and slowly leave (they are happy to let us queue for a manned till). Then the CCTV gets a good close up of those leaving - helpful for police. They have CCTV in the car park (leave your car for more than 3 hours in Tesco car park and they will send you a charge) so track thieves by car no.
All this blaming police cuts are a bit of an easy option for the supermarkets.
Employ more staff - some a bit bigger and burly. We customers are covering the costs of their losses by higher prices (at least I don't see their share price or profits tumbling due to this) so get a grip Tesco.

SerendipityJane · 22/09/2023 09:18

Also they could make the doors less open - huge doorways at the moment-

Not great if there's a fire or need to evacuate in a hurry ...

MyHornCanPierceTheSky · 22/09/2023 09:25

Absolutely agree with @HenriettaBaguetta you only have to see any social media story where someone's been arrested for drugs/violence/shoplifting, swathes of 'an absolute angel/pillar of community/ they're the victim '

Sandra1984 · 08/10/2023 18:34

Security guards at supermarket can perfectly make a citizens arrest then wait for police. They are not doing it because they’re on minimum wage. How about putting two burly security guards who are well paid by the door? Answer: because it’s probably more profitable for supermarkets to cut staff costs and let some stuff get stolen.

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