How close do you think we are to looting?

[DoubleAction]

DS has a lot of friends in the Army. They're all on standby and being briefed on how to deal with looters.

What do you think? Just a precaution or the powers that be really think they will be needed?

Not at all

Outskirts London here the shops were calmer earlier, shelves still pretty empty but stock going onto them of some stuff. They had meat fish etc etc not loads but it was there. Obviously just got pots and apples in.

People had baskets that were not rammed full rather than the packed trolleys last week

I think things will calm down now tbh

Right now, not very - the whole picture is of shortages and nothing in the shops. Which are only just beginning to close.

As more close, and especially as smaller ones won’t be able to afford private security, I think there will be thefts and maybe even squatting.

But looting (mobs sweeping through an area) seems less likely. As we are meant to be minimising going out at all, it would be quite conspicuous and possibly easier to stamp out that when it’s a side effect of a riot

DS is in regular contact with old school friends and this is what more than one has told him.

That is not what counts as a reliable source. It is the equivelent of something you heard from a friend of a friend. It is gossip and rumour spreading, nothing more. It is socially irresponsible given that so many people are suffering from anxiety already with the current situation. Bluntly, you don't know shit so stop winding people up by pretending that you do.

I think it is more than likely certain elements will take advantage in the coming weeks.

Which is what many looting and riot situations are about. Taking advantage of a breakdown in law and order.

The Gordon Riots 1780, which some statistics put at 700 deaths, started as a religious and political demonstration but ended up with riots which were opportunistic and not related to the original demonstrations at all.

At around the same time period there were also hundreds of bread riots across England as well.

Yes the army will certainly be on standby to prevent civil unrest. Especially to go into areas of high deprivation and high crime rates. To not understand this is naivety or ignorance about urban areas.

We are already seeing black market profiteers buying up goods, hoarding and re selling at inflated prices. Already seeing fights break out in supermarkets.

However. I dont think the government will let it get to the stage of break down in law and order. At least I hope not. But it is a possibility and they will be monitoring public mood

Not going to be any looting.

Probably the same time as the war mentioned on another thread, some watch too much telly

Where I live has been the opposite. Everything really calm and normal, no panic buying until today. Went to local small Co Op at lunch, no queue as they only had some wholemilk, bread and lunch deal stuff left. Huge queues down the street for the butcher and greengrocer. Local countryside spots, woods and open walking packed, queues for the car parks and cars (illegally) parked all along adjacent road, lots of families with young kids nearly running out on the road in their wellies. Never in all the time I've lived gere have I seen it so busy. Very strange. The local kids play parks were also still busy as I drove by.

I think as we get used to the new normal the panic buying will slow down. I cant see looting happening as a trend maybe some opportunistic theft but nothing out of the ordinary.

Theft may go down as everyone will be in their houses

What is a sain?

Nah won't happen here

One of the most naive statements I've ever read! Remember the Summer of 2011, it only needed an excuse to start widespread looting and excusers said But people are hard up! They certainly were, hard up for wode screen TVs etc!
We need to be realistic and be prepared to accept that in extraordinary time we may need extraordinary measures and if that includes armed troops carrying live ammo on our streets and prepared to used it then so be it.

Sainsbury’s

Absolutepowercorrupts
I was just thinking the same thing 😂

Aah
Got it 😁

All the high Street stores that are closing are sending stock back to warehouses for online delivery so there won't be anything in shops for people to loot.

Only looting i can remember in my lifetime were the ones that escalated from that london shooting about 5years or so back, idiots didn't even know why they were looting they just were, alot of people stood outside shops and helped shop owners

My DH is one of the lorry drivers working hard to deliver food to the supermarkets. He says he is scared...scared he is going to be hijacked for the food and loo roll he carries.
His company have been told to expect army escorts if things get hairy.

Hopefully it will become a virtuous circle. Our Tesco's was fine this morning which immediately meant DP and I adjusted our buying decisions - things we were hovering on "can we justify an extra one" we went No.

Does anyone else find their shopping is just a stream of ethical decisions? Bought a pack of paella rice for one of our favourite meals but not for immediate use. And I was thinking "God, is this hoarding?" and then realised how stupid that was - like people are going to be panicking if they can't find paella rice. I just feel I'm constantly questioning every purchase.

I've been holding off replying to these type of threads. This type of thing is just fucking inflammatory. Can't help but feel from the posts here loads of mumsnetters are relishing in the crisis and making people scared. It's a fucking joke. I'm just done with it I'm gonna delete my account . While the lot of you just work yourselves up into a frenzy.

The government is handing out quite a lot of money, what's the point of looting?

The looting will come later when the financial damage is brought to bear, perhaps?

my cat's brother's cousin 2nd times removed is the chief cat of the general of the army of the north and he says any day now.

which shows how stupid these threads are becoming

Bullshit.

Someone in our village had milk stolen off the doorstep yesterday.

I also heard about someone having a whole trolley taken in the supermarket while their back was turned.

People are stealing hand gel from hospitals.

Not normal behaviour but shows people are desperate enough.

But I do think there was more stuff in the shops today, so it should calm down.

My city, Birmingham, has experienced riots. The last being some 10 years ago.
It was scary and I think people are naieve to say it won't happen.

Maybe they live in a sleepy hamlet.