A GREGGS customer has been praised for stopping a would-be shoplifter as staff tried to prevent her from intervening.
Footage shared to social media yesterday from one of the chain’s stores in Tooting, South London, shows the woman stepping in as the thief raids one of the fridges.
Despite being urged not to bother by in-store employees, the woman’s actions appear to deter the shoplifter who, despite trying to grab armfuls of goods, makes off with only a single bottle of juice in the end.
Footage filmed by another customer shows the shoplifter already raiding the fridge of the bakery chain as the woman stands behind him, protesting vehemently.
The man, dressed in a black hoodie and shorts, appears to be emptying the fridge of soft drinks with several discarded bottles of Coke littering the floor around him as he tries to stash more into a plastic bag.
The woman, wearing a black top and skirt, shouts: “No, no, no, you’re not having it.”
A Greggs employee takes her arm and tries to pull her back, but she shakes him off and snatches up the bag.
Another staff member is visible in the background, watching the scene unfold as the thief shouts back: “Yeah I am.”
However, the confident woman replies: “Well you’re not.”
She starts attempting to physically drag him out of the fridge with little success, as the employee steps in again and separates them.
Clearly annoyed, she says: “No, he’s not having it.”
He pushes her aside as the thief suddenly stands up and storms out, his face covered.
A single bottle of juice is visible in his hand, seemingly ending up being the only thing he managed to steal.
The video was shared to social media yesterday with the caption: “Another Greggs shoplifter. This time a customer intervened and stopped him.
“Good on her.”
It has since received over 4,400 likes and more than 560 comments from fellow Brits applauding the woman and criticising the staff.
One commented: “We need more people like her with the guts to stand up to these thieves. Shame the others in the shop didn’t help the woman.
“We have the same Greggs issue in the small town where I live.”
A second wrote: “I know it’s good to stand up but I was relieved to see the lady wasn’t injured.
“It’s sickening – shoplifting is rife and I’ve heard that if the amount stolen is under £200 it won’t be pursued by the police? Thieves then just blatantly stealing.”
Another said: “Why are the staff letting it happen? I’d sack the lot.”
A fourth said: “What does the staff member think he’s doing putting his hands on a customer?”
Another added: “Greggs etc are going to have to become like jewellery stores and buzz you in and out for your steak bake – what madness zero policing has brought to the high street.”
Greggs has been contacted for comment.
