Whats The Law On Shoplifting?

[silliemillie]

Was in the Co Op today when a couple of girls were stopped for shoplifting.

The lady on the till told them she had seen them on the monitor put something in their bag, they denied it so she asked them to wait while the Police were called.

Obviously they didnt like the sound of that and pushed passed her excaping with anything they may or may not have had.

She just shrugged & said she was not, by law, able to touch them or stop them so had to let them go.

Surely this can't be right? if thats the case then anyone could walk into any shop and take what they liked.

[B00]

"She just shrugged & said she was not, by law, able to touch them or stop them so had to let them go. "

As a Co-op worker I can confirm that this is the case.

And to be brutally honest, if someone was being aggressive if i'd questioned 'em, id let them go, policy or no policy. No amount of stock is worth any abuse/weapon they might pull out on you!

[Canary42]

Not sure what the law is now, but many years ago in Richmond I saw a couple of shop workers (one a security guy) chase a girl out of the shop and then got her and dragged her back into the shop, accusing her of shoplifting.

[joeluke]

Whatever happened to 'citizens arrests'?

[B00]

is a few joints of beef or 4 pack of Stella really worth a knife in the guts Joe?

[sherrardk]

I thought it was only a crime when the 'shop lifter' had actually left the shop. I also agree with Boo, if I worked in a shop and someone tried to do a runner with the stuff I would let them go, I would want to get clobbered for a couple of bars of chocolate.

[dotty.]

concealing an item about your person and not having enough money to pay is intent to steal, whether you leave the premises or not, but there has to be a clear sighting of the concealment and the suspect has to never leave sight of the person/s watching her to be sure the concealed item is not dumped

[silliemillie]

Hi Boo,

I can see your point that people are more inportant most definately,

but while us honest people (or some would say MUGS), are lining up like sheep for 20 minutes to hand over our hard earned cash others are just walking out with stuff and nothing can be done.

Dont know what the answer is really, but it does leave a bitter taste.

[DTCwordfan]

It's not a question of the law, silliemille/joe, it's as B00 says. We used to train our petrol station folk not to react for that reason. Sometimes it went disastrously wrong.

One time in favour of the operator was in Belgium - on the motorway from Ostend to Brussels. Gang appear in a service station near Bruges, in front of one of those "cashier booths" - and with a shotgun.

"Hand over your money"
"No"
Bang..................................................and that much shot came forward, hit the windo (which was bullet proof) and hit the gang on the rebound. Didn't take the Belgian police too long to fine leaking criminals.

The corollary of this was a gang in the US - same scenario - except that the cashier, unbeknown to management was armed. From inside the boot, when challenged, he produced his pistol and fired - the bullet ricocheting around and killing him.

[DTCwordfan]

sorry - to find, not fine

[RATTER15]

I was under the impression that "legally" you could restrain a person until the police arrive using reasonable force.

Am I wrong?

[DTCwordfan]

yes, under a citizen's or citizens' arrest - but the risk?

[Stephen_G]

In the Sports Shop I used to work in, I was allowed to chase a Shoplifter - for all of 3 FEET! After that, I had to notify the Retail Park Security and let them deal with it.

[DTCwordfan]

And I believe there has to be a demonstrated intent to steal,......for example, an Alzheimers goes into a store, picks up a newspaper and mag and fails to pay for it - and then is pulled over at the exit, it is not theft.

[joeluke]

Typical British 'I don't want to get involved' attitude here

What percentage of shoplifters carry knives? Pretty low I'd think

Might as well put a sign up in shop saying 'Take what you like cos we won't try to stop you'

[silliemillie]

Even putting aside the law issue, is it right that people are 'laughing' at us honest people for paying, you might as well set up an honesty box - if you want to can of not, no prblem, have it for free!

I am not critising the staff, I can understand why they wont intervene but there must be a better way.

[B00]

Quite possibly true Ratter, but who in their right mind would take the risk of a weapon being pulled on them? And probably the buggers will sue you anyway for hurting them whilst being restrained and or abuse of their human rights!

[B00]

joe, if you think im going to take that risk, in a shop that's not even mine- you're having a giraffe ;-)

[pastafreak]

I've been in my local ALDI several times when staff have chased shoplifters who've left the store. Maybe it depnds on whether a shop has trained security staff to do so.

[sherrardk]

Joeluke - I presume you are a bloke who is assured of his masculinity and would wade straight in? I am a slightly built female with kids to think of, let them nick some chocolate, not my problem.

[Hopkirk]

Presumably CCTV has images of these people, so if the Police had the resources and inclination they could find and arrest them.