Drama at the Co-op

I was in the supermarket just before Christmas and saw a young woman stuffing cosmetics into her pockets - I alerted a member of staff who simply shrugged her shoulders, said that it happens this time of year, and walked away. Looking at the cost of the cosmetics being taken the young woman must have got away with over £50 worth.

Shoplifters not only cost us money through higher prices but, if imprisoned, cost us money to keep them. I think confiscating possessions, such as TVs, computers, smartphones even cars, which could then be sold to immediately pay heavy fines would be much more effective.

notanan2, I'd be surprised if they got a lot for the choice cuts because it might be dodgy. Also, just because you're poor, doesn't mean you don't want a smoked salmon treat every now and again!

It goes back to your upbringing really. My kids weren't allowed to "find" things (just in case they weren't actually lost) so they always had to hand in what they found because it wasn't theirs. I wouldn't let them eat the pick your own until they actually owned it. They had to let me know where they were going so I knew they weren't hanging around on street corners so they weren't being tempted to make mischief. They were taught to treat people how they would want to be treated. I am sure most of the GNers on here did much the same so it makes you wonder where things went so wrong.

You can get smoked salmon off cuts for less than £2. I would rather that than a dodgy side of smoked salmon that has been out of the fridge for god knows how long!

notanan2 you just may have more common dog than the average person prepared to buy knock off goods. I wouldn't buy it either.

One of these days, if we're not all buying our groceries online to be pre-packed and collected/delivered, you'll see only facsimiles on the shelf with a barcode which you'll swipe if you want that item. Then as you do this, it's automatically put into your 'basket' to be uplifted when paid for.

I never thought I'd be able to work entirely without going into my bank to do everything but I've got there and now we don't even have a bank within 20 miles of us. So I'm sure it'll come.

Our local Co-op was ram-raided yesterday. Seems like Co-ops are particularly vulnerable - often on 'sleepy' at night time High Streets and easy to ram-raid in to. Bollards placed strategically outside the stores could surely help prevent/deter these attacks? Fortunately for our village we have an alternative shop but for those who don't and do not shop on line, do not drive, what do they do? It is so often the elderly and most vulnerable who suffer even more at the hands of these thieves.

Yes, ours is a village Co-op, on a main road, two pubs nearby, but not a hot bed of night live . They cannot have bollards at the front because that is where their supply lorries draw in at least partially off the road and some shoppers park there when they just want to nip in quickly to -knick- buy a few items and get on their way,

I think more of these stores should have those low level one way push gates inside but close to the entrance. They wouldn't stop determined shop lifters, but would reduce the grab and runners, like we had.

Our supermarket in France had some sort of gadget at the till which would set of an alarm if the customer was hiding something he/she had stolen.
I know this is different from grab and run.
Twice I was coming through with a totally innocent visitor from the UK and the alarm went off - very embarrassing!
I think the alarm was mainly linked to labels on clothing.

We have that here Fennel, but not on groceries, except perhaps expensive wine.