THIS is the moment a member of the public confronts an aggressive shoplifter outside a supermarket in London as helpless staff watch on.
In a video shared to social media yesterday, the bystander films the woman coming out of the Co-op in Alperton, Wembley, north-west London, with a pile of stolen goods.
Among the woman’s stolen goods are two boxes of chocolates, a bottle of milk, a box of ice lollies and a bunch of flowers.
A member of the public confronts the shoplifter to let the thief know she has spotted her and tries to get the robber to own up to her crime.
The brazen thief, fully aware she is on camera, turns nasty and begins hurling abuse and threats at the bystander before walking away.
The video shows the thief, wearing a denim jacket and tracksuit bottoms, kicking something across the floor inside the shop as one of the staff members dodges out of her way.
Two staff members can then only look on, helpless, as the thief bends to pick up her stolen stash before marching outside with it all in her arms.
In her rush to escape the scene of the crime the brazen thief leaves a box behind on the floor.
She notices the woman filming, who shouts: “Yeah, show your face you little thief, show your face.”
The shoplifter replies with something unintelligible and strides off down the footpath in an attempt to escape.
After being followed by the bystander the thief becomes angry, turning back and playing up to the camera, saying: “Maybe I’ll even go viral, just for you.”
The woman recording, shocked at the thief’s sudden boldness says: “No worries, don’t worry.”
The thief then menacingly walks up to the woman, her face stony as she prepares to threaten the bystander.
In a menacing voice she issues a bizarre threat: “In my country, I could take you somewhere now and get you peeled.”
The rest of her threat is cut off as the woman steps backwards to protect herself saying: “Leave, stay away, stay away from me, stay away.”
The shoplifter appears to call her a “dirty b***h” before mocking her voice with a childlike imitation.
The staff can be seen in the doorway watching the altercation unfold with one of them on the phone.
The thief then announces she is going back to her apartment before strutting off before anyone can stop her.
Realising she is still being filmed, she turns back halfway down the path and says: “I don’t give a f**k.”
The video was shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “Happened today, shop thief in Alperton Grand Canal.”
It has since received over 700 likes and more than 400 comments from hacked-off social media users.
One said: “Just look at the thief… no iota of conscience but pride in stealing. She even wants to go viral.”
Another commented: “Lawless society. What’s the point in having security in stores. As much use as a chocolate fireguard.”
A third wrote: “All the essentials including a bunch of flowers. Crime really does pay.”
Another said: “Why do they stand there just allowing it? Pathetic.”
