Shoplifting in charity shops

I saw something similar happen years ago; a woman was asked politely if she would like to put by the item she had carried round the shop for some time. Instead, she threw it on the floor and ran out of the shop
That was in the days when shoplifting was regarded as an offence and she could have been arrested. Now she would simply walk out of the shop with it.
This is the culture of a burgeoning Welfare State; entitlement to something for nothing.

One of my local and very good charity shops is just now being targeted by groups of three women who take their time picking up the better clothes and then walking out.They aren’t British, the staff think Eastern European.They aren’t in the least bothered about doing it even when challenged.I expect things will end up at boot sales.
For some people now living in our country it’s just easy pickings.

It’s very upsetting for any shop staff to have this happen on a regular basis.

Its unbelievable! Shoplifting seems to be considered a ' normal ' activity!

I suspect it's just as easy pickings for some people who have always lived in our country, and who see it as their country too. There is really no need to bring race into this.

Dishonesty is dishonesty, and people (from wherever they originate) stealing from a charity shop are particularly bad, as the whole set up depends on good will, from the donors, from the volunteers and from those paying for the goods.

We have to deal with it all the time. We have wheelchair bound who put goods under their blanket.
Fortunately we have CCTV all over the shop.
My manger calls me the attack dog 😂
When she sees something suspicious she gives me a ring ( I’m in another dept) I will go out to the shop, stand very close to the person/ persons and give them the look 😡

Oreo I expect things will end up at boot sales.

When I used to do boot sales, often for charity, my stuff used to get nicked regularly.

A couple of times my stuff (or things that looked very like my stuff) used to turn up on other peoples' stalls but I could never prove anything so I just used to have to suck it up.

Actually it was more than a couple of times.

Oreo

One of my local and very good charity shops is just now being targeted by groups of three women who take their time picking up the better clothes and then walking out.They aren’t British, the staff think Eastern European.They aren’t in the least bothered about doing it even when challenged.I expect things will end up at boot sales.
For some people now living in our country it’s just easy pickings.

Does the shop not have cctv?

I agree- shoplifting used to be a shameful thing. Now it has become not just normal but somehow socially immaterial. I suspect it has something to do with the low value we put on our clothing and even food now- due to unscrupulous manufacturing and processing methods.

My local supermarket has even started giving fruit and veg away free!

It seems ironic that 'charity' shops which help those in need are being targetted by the very people they are seeking to help.

It's mad.

lowest of the low, easy pickings for some

I volunteered in a charity shop for years and we had people take clothes into the changing rooms and swap them for their tatty old stuff then hang them up !

There was a Romanian Big Issue Seller who stood nearby and he came in loads of times and did that, stealing nice boots and trainers and leaving us his old worn out rubbish. He did the same with coats and hats. Our Manager was lovely and very kind hearted but would not challenge him as he was a big bloke. He did it as bold as brass! He used to get dropped off in a nearly new BMW.

Doodledog

I suspect it's just as easy pickings for some people who have always lived in our country, and who see it as their country too. There is really no need to bring race into this.

Dishonesty is dishonesty, and people (from wherever they originate) stealing from a charity shop are particularly bad, as the whole set up depends on good will, from the donors, from the volunteers and from those paying for the goods.

Well said and I agree.

It’s a crime, it needs to be stopped, I don’t care if they are Brits, “foreigners” or aliens.

petra

We have to deal with it all the time. We have wheelchair bound who put goods under their blanket.
Fortunately we have CCTV all over the shop.
My manger calls me the attack dog 😂
When she sees something suspicious she gives me a ring ( I’m in another dept) I will go out to the shop, stand very close to the person/ persons and give them the look 😡

Well done you, I’m just imagining your look!

It’s not just charity shops - shoplifting is rife, and the law/government just shrugs its shoulders.

Since when did blatant theft cease to be an offence?
A massive crackdown is needed, and those gangs who come from abroad specifically for the purpose, because they know we are so stupidly soft, should be deported immediately, with their biometric details recorded so that they can never return.

Cossy

Doodledog

I suspect it's just as easy pickings for some people who have always lived in our country, and who see it as their country too. There is really no need to bring race into this.

Dishonesty is dishonesty, and people (from wherever they originate) stealing from a charity shop are particularly bad, as the whole set up depends on good will, from the donors, from the volunteers and from those paying for the goods.

Well said and I agree.

It’s a crime, it needs to be stopped, I don’t care if they are Brits, “foreigners” or aliens.

Totally. I remember covering court cases as a young reporter and there were always shoplifters up - many for repeat offences. Now hardly anyone seems to bother. I do understand that shop staff are told not to challenge shoplifters for safety reasons, but surely you can't just allow people to take anything they want without any consequences?

There is something particularly disgusting about shoplifting in charity shops though.

We also had a very well dressed local older lady who regularly pinched stuff. She used to go into the back room away from the till area and she would choose something and drape it over her arm. Our Manager was coming down the stairs and saw her slip it in her shopping bag. We were all shocked as her son is very well off and owns a big garden centre. Our charity was for disabled children.

After that whenever she came in which was very often, one of us would come down and follow her around the shop. She knew she was being watched so eventually gave up but she still helps out in her son’s garden centre.

Oreo

One of my local and very good charity shops is just now being targeted by groups of three women who take their time picking up the better clothes and then walking out.They aren’t British, the staff think Eastern European.They aren’t in the least bothered about doing it even when challenged.I expect things will end up at boot sales.
For some people now living in our country it’s just easy pickings.

I've seen this in my local charity shops, three women speaking in their own language examining things in a huddle, showing each other things and then leaving the shop with them. I was shocked because their behaviour made it obvious what they were doing but the assistant just kept her head down.

The three were at it again in a charity shop further up the road. I think the staff are told not to challenge people.

Linked to the above, my husband came back from an early visit to town recently to tell me that he had seen people at the rear entrance of Greggs with bags helping themselves to stuff that had been delivered for use in the shop that day. I suppose it could have been yesterday's food but the shop always empty at the end of the day and he said it was all bagged up and looked new to him. Something needs to be done about shop lifting, we all pay the price, they get stuff for free.

Someone upthread said about supermarkets giving away fruit and veg.

Tesco are promoting this for children, but the tv advert shows a young lad pinching a grape off a display and running out with it, to be pursued by a huge ‘fruit’ monster.

Might seem insignificant, one grape, but it just trivialises stealing, which is what it is.

It’s a new Tesco campaign Calendargirl to promote fruit and vegetables. They’re passing some profit onto schools, I think.

Georgesgran

It’s a new Tesco campaign Calendargirl to promote fruit and vegetables. They’re passing some profit onto schools, I think.

Yes, I realise it’s a new campaign.

Still think nicking a grape isn’t the right message though.

Why not have the boy looking longingly at the fruit, then the fruit monster appearing, and offering him one?

Much better image.

I put some of my grandchildren’s toys I kept at our home on FB.
They were free of charge.
A man messaged to say he collected toys for children of low income families, could he have them?
Fortunately before I responded someone messaged to say he had a regular car boot pitch selling the toys.

Doodledog

I suspect it's just as easy pickings for some people who have always lived in our country, and who see it as their country too. There is really no need to bring race into this.

Dishonesty is dishonesty, and people (from wherever they originate) stealing from a charity shop are particularly bad, as the whole set up depends on good will, from the donors, from the volunteers and from those paying for the goods.

FYI race has nothing to do with what I said, they are the same race as us.Different countries such as those in Eastern Europe are different to us only by culture/ customs/ language.
This particular shop is plagued by shoplifters from that region.