Supermarket thief caught on camera as owner interviewed by ITV about shoplifting

A thief was caught on camera stealing alcohol from an ITV camera crew who were interviewing a shop owner about the impact of shoplifting on his business.

CCTV footage of the incident at Freshfield Market in Croydon, shown by ITV News, shows a man in a hooded camouflage jacket walking down the liquor aisle and casually placing two bottles in his pocket.

The clip then cuts to the ITV camera crew and a woman can be heard saying: “I think he’s stealing.”

The camera pans to film the man, who is then intercepted by the owner and a member of staff mid-interview.

Read more: What are the current penalties for shoplifting in the UK?

The thief says: “I’ll pay for this in a minute bro” before handing over the two bottles and telling the staff to “move”.

Owner Ben Selvaratnam told ITV News: “They are so eager, no one will challenge them.”

“Clearly, he’s getting away, that’s what he’s telling me. So when we challenge them, it’s almost like, “What are you doing? You won’t have to challenge us. We are used to walking only. in and out.'”

Shoplifting a growing problem

Shoplifting has recently become a top issue for retailers large and small, with many businesses complaining that the police never take the crime seriously.

The British Retail Consortium has estimated that theft costs retailers nearly £1 billion a year.

Last week, the Co-op said its grocery business had lost £33m due to leakage costs, which include theft and fraud.

Read more: Co-op boss urges police to take shoplifting more seriously after £33m cost

Matt Hood, managing director of Co-op Food, said: “One of the things that angers me the most is people who claim this is a victimless crime – basically it’s not, as my colleagues in the store who have have been verbally abused or have been verbally abused. knives or syringes have been pulled from them, everyone can vouch for it.”

Hood said police officers participate in about two out of 10 burglaries, which means criminals need to be released.

Smaller businesses, which often cannot afford additional staff or security systems, face even greater problems.

In early September, the Convenience Stores Association accused police of failing to turn up to deal with violent attacks on store staff because the killer had already fled.

What happens if you are caught shoplifting in the UK?

A thief can expect to face two different charges if caught – a lesser one if the value of the stolen goods is under £200, or a more serious one if they are more valuable.

Currently, if a person is caught stealing goods worth less than £200, they face a £70 fine without having to go through a court.

They can still technically be charged with an offense and sentenced to six months in prison by a magistrate, but most police forces opt for the quicker fine option.

Anything over £200 can lead to a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.