I Ignored A Shoplifter Today

[GymLadTim]

I was in a food shop this afternoon and wanted to reach for an item that was on a top shelf. An old man was standing in front of the area I wanted to access bent over looking at something on the bottom shelf.

Eventually I decided just to stand behind him and reach over him to get my item because he was taking ages and I did so. As I stood over him I looked down and witnessed him put about four jars of coffee into his bag and zip it up. He then noticed me and realised that I had seen what he had done. He smiled and said "what they don't know wont hurt em" and walked off. I was mortified but did not do or say anything.

My head is now spinning. Should I have confronted the old man? reported him to the shop staff? Should I have asked him if he was okay - maybe he has financial issues and I could have signposted him to the CAB? But why four jars of coffee? Have I committed a criminal offence by not doing anything? Should I go back to the shop and tell them tomorrow?

What would you do?

[Canary42]

Whatever you do don't go back and tell them - they'll do you for it.


And no, you haven't committed a criminal offence IMO.

[CrapAtCryptics]

I`d have reported the thieving bxtd

[Baldric]

No confrontation, not in your remit, just let staff know what's happening.

[ummmm]

Canary - why would they do GymLad for it? He's nothing wrong or illegal.

[GymLadTim]

I'm just worried that I may be seen as an accomplice if I report him.

[Maydup]

I'd have done exactly what you did .... nothing. Then got home and wished I reported him!

[Canary42]

ummmm - my answer is based on the way stores reacted when my brother (who worked in a residential special needs school) returned stuff shoplifted by some of the children - the shop then assigned all that day's shoplifting to the kids and sought recompense from the school (whereas much of the shoplifting came from the shop staff)

[Bobbisox1]

Maybe an anonymous phone call?
Oh I don't know what I would of done either :0/

[ummmm]

That's unusual as they'd need to prove it.

[Maydup]

Best left now, he's long gone with his jars of coffee!

[GymLadTim]

I tried to put myself in his position - maybe he was struggling financially and could not afford to eat. But why four jars of Kenco?

[Canary42]

Perhaps the old man had grounds for doing so [OK, I'll get my coat]

[ummmm]

Easy to sell.

[andres]

We've recently had a man sneaking into the local supermarket ,grabbing as many jars of coffee as he could and then charging off across the carpark. I've been in there on a couple of occasions and seen the staff chasing after him. Now there is a security man standing by the door. Had it been just the one jar you could have turned a blind eye but four is too many to ignore.He would be going to his local pub and flogging them.

[Maydup]

Who knows, he could just be stocking up. Or a gift for each of his girl friends? Or maybe he's pretending to be a benefactor at a coffee morning. I bet he's not really hard up, just a thieving old git.

[Prudie]

I probably wouldn't have done anything either - however he was undoubtedly relying on you thinking poor man, he must be penniless when in most cases they are just plain thieves.

[GymLadTim]

Andres do you think I should go back and tell the shop staff what happened? Actually think I am going to do that because I don't want this hanging over me.

[jackthehat]

You have nothing 'hanging over you' except an obvious tendency to the over-dramatic.....

[Baldric]

Unless you can identify him and are prepared to go to Court as a witness don't bother.

[Bobbisox1]

They'd have CCTV I'm sure, tell them anonymously what time you were in and that you were in the aisle where the coffee is, not sure it'll do much good but it's obviously chewing you up