Would Your Report a Shoplifter?

I have done it in the past and sometimes have just been met with blank stares from the staff. It kind of put me off doing it

Tbh even if you do there's not a lot the staff can really do as they're not supposed to stop them or anything.

I have reported shoplifters to staff in a few shops. I’ve also caught two who we’re about to walk out the door. One guy looked like a bodybuilder and he had under his arms, boxes of steaks and salmon. I stood in front of him and he tried to pass. I pushed him and he pushed me. By this time my husband saw what happened and he knocked the food out of his arms. I shouted shoplifter and people came to help. He got away with only a few things and not hundred pounds worth of food.

I reported some one putting at least 3 packs of meat in Iceland in jacket. Staff looked for him but don't think they had any luvk

Even if you reported it, the store or the police won’t do anything about it. That’s the sad thing it’s the norm now.

I don't think so. I only read this morning that Superdrug's staff with their headphone on is really watching "certain shoppers". This behaviour by all various shop staff has put me off completely on "telling tales".

I didn’t report it because the two young ladies saw me watching them as one put something in her pocket in John Lewis. The friend nudged her and pointed towards me, they put it back.

It depends. I may stop them, especially if I can see they’re doing it as a career choice rather than out of desperation

My mum saw some guy stealing steak at M&S about think 2 weeks ago told a member of staff they said it happens a lot every day!! But they couldn’t do anything as guy already walked out the door

And when my mum and sister just got home saw him walking on opposite side of the road!

If it was convenient to do I would but everyone knows it's a shoplifters paradise at the moment with the police not interested. The punishments aren't a deterrent and the prisons are spilling over with scum. It's just the madness of a soft idealistic mentality which creates so many problems. We are a bankrupt country and yet people keep saying not enough investment in the police and prisons and of course there never will be in fact it is likely their resources will be cut in the future.

I would like to say yes but sadly nothing seems to be done if you do !. And now a days you never know how someone will act

I have reported many a shoplifter over the years, but from talking to friends who work in retail, some are advised not to challenge the thief as the police don't bother much about petty crime. It's absolutely disgusting as it's on the rise every week, and we're paying the price for it.

No I havent and won't. Desperate people need to eat , drink and survive. I turn blind eye. Let the security people do there jobs.

Saw a potential shoplifter and her companion stopped by security outside Tesco earlier when I popped in for my lunch , they were shouting, swearing and waving their arms as if the were going to hit the security chap if he got too close , Judging by that I'm glad I wasn't involved . Police were just arriving when i came out but no sign of the shoplifters , just the security guy and 4 or 5 members of staff stood there.

I have pointed people out several time in our local shops but nothing seems to get done, it seems rife in our town centre.

What's the point? Staff are advised to not do anything and police don't even turn up. Iv seen a couple of blatant thefts the last few months, because the thieving buggers know no one will challenge them. Even IF challenged there let go with a slap on wrist

I have done in the past but was informed they were already watching the suspect and were just waiting for them to leave the store, with a few staff members waiting out in the car park. That was a few years ago, these days I am less certain I would bother.

I think I would. Depending if I was scared of them or not.

For instance if it was a very young girl stealing sanitary towels I would stop her and pay for them, things like that I understand

Yes definitely. The problem is the police wont even attend if the goods stolen are valued at less than £200. I wouldn’t approach a member of staff on the shop floor i do it at the tills.

I always have and always will. I will always help them if they seem reluctant to do anything. Can't blame them as they don't get paid enough to confront these horrible people. Until the courts get tougher we are all losing the battle and us honest folk pay the price. Successive weak governments are to blame.

It’s shocking how the police are not interested even if you have cctv. When my partner reported a guy to security in Sainsburys the guy said yes he comes in every day and we are told not to confront him. Shocking we are all paying for this!

Nobody wants to be a shop lifter, it’s only people struggling and can’t afford things that do it usually.. unless you are a really tight fisted, greedy person.

I feel sorry for people who have to put themselves in this worrying situation.

Mum’s with kids, or addiction problem’s, mental health, there’s all sorts of reasons why people go down this route.. it so sad.

All depends we were in a freezer shop watched a man steal not one but 2 bottles of vodka now if he had been stealing food for his family I would have paid for it but not for alcohol I would have reported him but the staff had seen him anyway

I've only seen it once . Told staff and she ran off after him. She caught him but he stuck it down his pants, apparently he's been band from the shop. She came back empty handed.

Definitely

I have done in the past. A young lad was stealing an expensive electric toothbrush from boots. The staff knew who he was as he regularly did it.

Yes I would.

They often do have security who often stop them but if you just tell karen on the registers, they won't do anything. You tell security at the doors.

I can't even afford 2 meals a day and am disabled and can't work, but I wouldn't steal.