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What Would You Do If You Saw A Shoplifter?

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Just wondering if you saw a shoplifter would you say anything to a member of staff?

julie781x
over a year ago
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laraquinn

Hmm.Probably.I don't like the idea of grassing somebody up though.

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BORDERJOE

hmmm I'm the same .... it's totally wrong but at the same time, maybe they are desperate ... I'm not sure I'd be brave enough to say something to the 'offender' - I think I probably would say something to a staff member..... but I'd worry about if I'd added to someone's troubles.

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Ann1984

I have in past but it can be tricky due to the offenders behaviour

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blacklabrador

Probably, depends on whether I felt I could deal with the situation if it got out of hand.

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GSM

I did it once and I got in trouble. The person followed me and I was very scared.

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PinkElephant26

I was in sainsburys about 2 months ago and i was 95% sure this man put a bottle of alcohol in his backpack, anyway i thought i wasn't going to say anything as i wasnt 100% sure and I'd hate to be wrong and show someone up. I went to the till and as i was coming away from the tills the man walked through the self service checkout and the alarms went off, the member of staff (young girl) challenged him and he just called her an f*****g idiot!! By the way...the security guard just sat on his a**e ON HIS PHONE and ignored the alarm until i said to him the man had taken a bottle of alcohol.

If people are desperate, they steal food/nappies/sanitary items...not alcohol, so no - i didnt feel guilty grassing him up!

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Mctash

Yes but to some1 achohol depentnt that does not have any they ca n become very sick and there body can go into shock can die from it to so it's to them there food

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BORDERJOE

PinkElephant26 I commented yesterday that I'd struggle to decide but it never occurred to me it may be alcohol or similar ... I was struggling, thinking in terms of any kind of food/toiletries etc ..... good for you ! If alcohol was a necessity then maybe being arrested would give opportunity for help ...or am I just being naive again!?

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Chelsea0121

Dont bother reporting honestly i used to work in retail in a poundshop and the amount of shoplifters we had was unbelievable. It got to point they would shoplift right in front of me and I would walk straight past them. They would pull knives out on staff and if we called them out of it they would scream abuse at us. Onsite security were shocking they would either let shoplifters get away with it or they would take the stolen goods off them and keep them to themselves and when we asked for it back they said no, one time police came and I said to them in front of security that they were just as bad as they would take stuff off shoplifters and then tell us that we werent having it back.

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Lynibis

Oh my word that is absolutely disgusting, what sort of world do we live in.......

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Chelsea0121

Lynibis thats a big reason why I left, i would get abuse from shoplifters then if I didnt catch them due to being stuck on till i would get screamed at by management as I shouldve apparently been up and down the aisles instead of serving paying customers. Couldnt win either way

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Lynibis

chelseaturpin I despair of this world in which we live. Man has been around for millennia and we still have not learned how to live decent lives.

Some may say we have moved on from the ancient civilisations but progress and better living conditions means nothing. Men's hearts are just as evil and we still torture, murder, steal and hate on those different to us......like I said I despair.

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ldnnorton

We witnessed someone shoplifting baby toys from a charity shop. To be honest we were so shocked that neither my partner or I had a chance to say anything to the person who stole the items. Not sure if I would have done even if we were more awake. We did how ever mention it to the staff when we paid for our items. They moved that particular section further back into the store.

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angelik

I think I probably would, but I would be concerned that the member of staff might be at risk if they went and confronted the shoplifter.

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RachHC

Even as a member of staff we were actually told not to confront shoplifters. Depending what they were getting though i would maybe let them know

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sam30

If I could see a security guard then yes I would report them. If I know something is wrong and I could possibly stop it from happening I will try

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Pjran

A few years ago we saw someone putting items in their jacket. We were so shocked and watched as they hot footed out of the shop. It all happened so quickly but there were no staff near us to report it.

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TractorGirl327

Depends what they were stealing. A pack of sweets, I'd probably let it pass. An expensive item of clothing or jewellery, or an electrical item, maybe yes.

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Lynibis

I can see your point but stealing is stealing, where does it turn from ok into not ok? If folk get away with the small things they get braver and progress to bigger.

My personal experience: 3 of us around 14 took it in turns to shoplift (steal) an item of make up each. I was third up and got caught, the others scarpered. I was marched to an office, police called, parents informed, it was the most frightening thing I had experienced up to that time. However, it taught me a salutary lesson and I have NEVER taken another single thing that did not belong to me since then.

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TractorGirl327

A fair few years ago we were in Sainsbury's just before Xmas, in the toy section, looking at the Toy Story stuff and this bloke marched in, pushed my son (then about 6 or 7) aside and grabbed 3 or 4 of the big, expensive Buzz & Woody dolls off the shelf, shouted to another bloke "Here they are, quick" and a 2nd guy came over and grabbed the rest then they made off towards the fire exit, which had been wedged open, where there was a car waiting.

I went and told the security guard and he said they were known shoplifters and they were aware they were in store and were waiting to catch them as they came back out through the main entrance, but having got out a different way they were obviously long gone.

It happened so quickly I didn't have time to think otherwise I'd have stuck my leg out and tripped them up!

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Mctash

If it's not yours you shouldnt touch but but personally circumstances must come into it somewere

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Mctash

No 1 has the right to give abusive to anyone and no1 should have to put up with iit theres just no need to be rude or abusive I try treat others how I'd like to be treated however rarely get call out now day s but if some1 did I d say nowt just belt em lol for there cheek hehe well I'd at least ask em to come stand toe to toe with me if they have summit say I now they wouldnt lol not reu d here

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beccatavender

It depends if they were well dressed, then I would tell a member of staff. If they looked poor and it was food , I wouldn't.

Do you remember Richard Medley (Richard & Judy fame) was accused of shoplifting from Tesco. I think that's when he admitted he had a problem with alchol.

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ACR

I've witnessed quite a lot of theft incidents in shops, but staff and security are usually well aware of what's happening.

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boepeep

In our local co op there are many people who have stolen high quality meats and walked out just to sell them. I just leave to it! It's none of my business. I know what's right and wrong - they clearly don't so that's their business..

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pato

That seems to happen a lot, I think it's the drug addicts that are stealing it to feed their habits.

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boepeep

I don't like to assume but that does cross my mind or they are desperate for money to feed their family... I'll never know... I just keep myself to myself pato

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pato

boepeep Yes, it's best to keep yourself to yourself these days, you can never tell what these people are carrying and there's no point in putting your wellbeing in danger over a gammon joint, I've seen them handing over goods to buyers outside shops they've no shame.

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Chelsea0121

boepeep this happens a lot at my local co op staff know the regulars and wont do anything about it and they go up and downs streets trying ro sell their 'stock'

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boepeep

I've actually witnessed a female member of staff chasing the woman with a handful of steaks down the street lmao. It's not funny but I couldn't help but laugh 🙊@chelseaturpin

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SilverSurfer

It probably depends on the company. If its a small business then I would probably tell them as it could potential cost them a lot, but if its a large business then no they can employ more staff if they have an issue with shoplifting.

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rossruby1977

Tell my mummy Image

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Imnotcheap

Honestly not sure what I'd do but honestly I probably wouldn't notice

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tumblespots

I think the real problem with shop lifting is the fact that the rest of us are paying for others getting away with paying nothing....

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possy

I don’t think I’d say anything. You would never know if they had a weapon. And know doubt I’d have my son with me so I’d def not say anything

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Imnotcheap

That's a hard one. Although when shopping I'm very focused on getting everything quickly and efficiently so probably wouldn't notice

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lynneh

Jovial reply: Tell them get on latest deals and that there’s no need to be a thief 😂

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hrdaniels1980

I worked in b&q and there was so many shoplifters, as I was a training to management I had to approach them or put a code out on the tannoy for the undercover security guards to help. Most of the time I knew the people as it’s a small town so luckily I didn’t get abuse.

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