Drama at the Co-op

grannyactivist that sounds like the South African model - a breakdown in statutory police services means that private security services have proliferated. It's what most people in South Africa rely on now - and pay for of course!

sandwich that happens regularly at my local corner shop (break ins for cigarettes and alcohol) - they seem to stock mostly booze. I think, what a stressful job that must be that you can be under threat at any time from thieves and breaker-ins.

My local Co-op has a prominently displayed poster indicating that they will not serve customers who are intoxicated!

The police really don't have the resources to deal with these low level crimes, but it doesn't mean they don't care. I work very closely with our local police and PCSOs and I honestly feel very sad for them. They are constantly frustrated and feeling demoralised by their inability to do the job they signed up for. One of them described to me the theft of a new lawnmower from an elderly lady and how their guidelines left them unable to investigate the offense; he was genuinely very upset about it. Our local PCSOs are all likely to lose their jobs soon and then it'll really be like the wild west here with the criminals already knowing they can get away with almost anything that doesn't involve violence.
I would rather pay a little extra tax and keep at least some semblance of a police force, but I expect we'll soon have more of the private security firms touting for business.
www.rt.com/uk/426133-private-police-force-austerity//

www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/scared-residents-private-security-patrol-15489009

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-44818726

Years ago, as I was walking towards my house with my little DDs I saw a young man run towards me & into my front garden. I shouted at him and he looked panicked and turned and raced across the road. A minute later a chap from.the local butcher arrived on the scene. The young man had stolen 3 joints of meat !

Our local shopkeeper (not in a quaint village but Greater London), not only had thousands of pounds worth of goods (alcohol and cigarettes) taken from his small shop, but was held at knifepoint. All caught on CCTV but police not really interested and didn't turn up for two days! I suppose it's because it's more commonplace in London.

Until we stop behaving so kindly towards people who have no qualms about stealing then it will only get worse. In the small town near us a group of caravans regularly park near the local supermarket; the children go in and cause havoc, running about shouting and knocking things over, while the adults 'shop' and then walk out. Nothing has ever happened; the police are called but often don't come, and if they do there seems to be 'nothing they can do'. I can believe that as their powers are so limited.

My local Debenhams looked a bit like a war zone earlier this week. I walked to the entrance as I was returning a dress and there were four armed Police outside. It put me off a stroll round the shops rather than being reassuring. Perhaps they should have been at the Co-op !

Lucky I worked in a bookshop and you become attuned to people who are in the shop for the wrong reason. So I see shoplifters all over the place! Perhaps you're just oblivious to them ...

This all sounds very familiar. A few years back when a small Sainsbury's opened near by I was browsing the first aisle when I came to what I thought was a staff member on their hands and knees clearing out the bottom shelves of chicken and meat into 2 big bags. I stopped beside him and he calmly turned to me and said " do you want to be in here, pet?" so I replied it's ok thanks I'll wait till you finish. It had crossed my mind why didn't he have a shop waistcoat on but I thought nothing more of it till I'd passed and moments later he was legging it out of the shop up the road. Staff members calming went to the door looked up the road saw him meet his friend, identified him then calmly went back to doing what they had been doing.

To this day it still brings chuckles to a friends throat, if it is ever recounted, the fact I said to him it was ok I'd wait till he finished.

Needless to say security changes were brought in to that shop.

My DIL works in a local Tesco store where they live and says it happens all the time. They have people come in late at night and take stuff or open the sandwiches and eat them before walking out. There are a lot of addicts in the area which is quite scary. Someone came in with a knife before Christmas and threatened them all - the police came but he'd run off by the time they arrived.

A couple of years ago we were coming out of one of the big stores - BM or Range and a couple ran past us with a trolley full of items nearly knocking into our car - they flung it all in the boot of theirs before tearing off out the car park. I went back in and told one of the store cashiers who said she'd report it but doubt anything would be done.

KatyK
Wow, you must have valuable cheese in your area!

Once in Sainsbury's I saw a man wheel a loaded trolley out of the doors without paying for it. The security men gave chase!

Bradford
That reminds me of a cartoon I saw once, it was two older ladies looking at a newspaper headline "Mobs Invade Mecca". One lady said to the other "Does this mean there'll be no bingo this week?"

Our Coop keeps the steak in the ‘back’ you have to ask for some now. It was regularly pinched so they say! I was in ours when a bloke stole a bottle of spirits, the staff gave chase but to no avail! I thought the idea of Community Police where to cover these types of crime.

My son manages a co op and it happens all too often , he has in the past gone after someone although i was horrified and told him he isn't to risk himself for some food!
They are not allowed to chase anyone now, they can ban them if they try to re enter at a later date though.

Sat in Lidl car park over Christmas while hubby popped in and a shop lifter ran out with a bag full, hubby came out to say the staff just had to watch as they are not allowed to intervene! there is no hope is there

I was going into Waitrose recently and a man was coming out with a full shopping bag, He was stopped by a manager who asked politely "Excuse me, sir, but have you paid for your shopping?" The man said "Yes" and the manager politely asked him to produce his till slip. Obviously I could not stand there gawping, so I went past them into the shop.
I have often wondered what happened next.

CCTV must be the answer. Cameras to protect your business both inside and out. Many do but no doubt small village shops don't Because it would offend the customer ? Tough? If you have nothing hide why should it. ?

Our local Asda has all their packs of cheddar cheese 'security protected'

That happens all the time at our local Co-op - yes, All. The. Time! Last summer it got really bad, with thieves stealing barbecue meat. The shop keepers got fed up, so they took all the meat to the back and, instead, put up a sign which said something like: "Please ask if you require meat." Then someone stole the sign!

If you see someone in a store putting things under a coat/ in pocket etc, you could say in a loud voice “would you like to use a basket/trolley instead of your pockets?”

I also heard recently that self service tills are responsible for theft. Stores installed them to save money on staff etc but apparently they are costing stores money. I think it was in a large Asda they have cameras on these tills.

A few months ago I was in a very large Tesco I nipped to the loo before shopping. When I walked out of the cubicle a young girl followed me in .She was clutching a ‘fun fur ‘ coat very close to her in a way that just seemed wrong. As I looked I could see the store label still on the coat. I approached the security men and told them to look out for a young woman leaving the toilets in a furry coat Within minutes the manager was called to the front of the store. I hope it wasn’t a coincidence

It needs a local community policeman who could come at the drop of a hat when the thief is in store.
Perhaps one or two people could box the car in when the man is on the shop?
Follow the car to see where they live? Then if they have CCTV (or take a pic with phone ) and customers willing to testify, take out a private prosecution?
Put a picture (from CCTV) on shop door/in shop window?
No way would I be able to accept it and do nothing.

I've seen people shoplifting. A very smart lady taking chocolate and leaving, did tell staff. You are in a state of shock because you can't believe your seeing it. Also saw a man in a cap stealing butter both from M&S.

Similar thing happened when I was shopping in Iceland just before Christmas. Couldn't believe it - three people stuffing frozen meat joints, poultry, tins of sweets and chocolates into their bags and under their coats before walking boldly past the checkouts to a waiting car. Manager wasn't too bothered when I reported it and carried on stacking the shelves! Said she'd check CCTV.