Rumours..

[Scrumpy]

... have it that our local Co-op is to close..
That's a nuisance .. Many people used it as a 'pop in' store.. 
And for those that didn't drive it was a godsend.. Especially the local elderly..
It was their walk for the day..

It would seem that shoplifters are rife in this local shop.. They are daring because there is no-one to challenge them.. It is an easy target..  These people are scum..

[klondike]

My local Co-op has been raided several times over the years. They are still open. Maybe yours will be OK too.

[JBR]

Shoplifting is naturally increasing beyond anything ever seen before, for obvious reasons:
no police presence, no prison terms for such things, the possibility of thieves being armed, etc, etc.

I think that the easiest and most effective solution would be to keep everything behind doors.  Customers would examine lists of products available, such lists along the aisles where the products used to be kept.
Customers could complete a list of what they want, hand in their lists, pay up, and then what they have requested brought out to them.
Yes, inconvenient and necessary waiting times, but perhaps needs must.

An alternative would be what we do: order online (Ocado usually) and wait for delivery.

[Scrumpy]

I often order online from stores but when I only need milk or bread the Co-op is the place to go..

Why don't they put security on the door ?.. The loss of items stolen would surely cover this cost..
The staff have heard nothing concerning closure.. But that doesn't mean a thing.. Staff are usually the last to know..

A rumour starts from somewhere.. It will be interesting as to what the outcome will be..

[Alex]

My local Morrisons has put all the wine and spirits behind locked glass doors, so you have to ask the lone assistant for what you want.  I don't know if it will make a difference or not, if people are really intent on stealing there's nothing to stop them asking for a bottle of Gin, putting it in their trolley and stashing it once round the next aisle !

Hope your Co-op survives Scrumpy 

[klondike]

I don't really use my local Co-op but it is open all hours so would be handy for many if a tad pricey. It used to have a security bloke and probably still does.

[Mups]

Our local Co-op here has had a lot of shoplifters, so I am told.

A little while ago they starting putting all the raw meat in rigid plastic boxes, that I believe can only be opened at the till.  
Now just a couple of weeks ago they have put rows of tall fridges everywhere too.  I find them a darn nuisance keep having to open every door to reach anything,  and the bloomin' thing keeps trying to swing shut on you,  so you have to sort of prop it open with the basket, while you reach for what you want.
 
Most of the veg is behind these big glass doors too now,  and all the milk and dairy.  

[Scrumpy]

My friend worked at M&S Crawley..
It closed its doors a couple of weeks ago.. She said that shoplifting was a big problem there..
We had a big M&S in the nearby town that also closed a few months back.

Next step !!! ... They will be hijacking the delivery vans..

[Mups]

Once again,   the prize is bigger than the deterrent.

Isn't it up to £200's worth and there is no penalty? 
So one assumes,  the habitual shop-lifters could go to and take a couple of hundred quids worth from half a dozen different shops,  and escape  trouble?
That's their Christmas shopping sorted then!

[klondike]

Probably sold on or even stolen to order. Nobody could scoff hundreds of pounds  worth of fresh food before it went off and meats are probably the highest value stuff apart from drinks and tobacco.

[Mups]

Probably sold on or even stolen to order. Nobody could scoff hundreds of pounds  worth of fresh food before it went off and meats are probably the highest value stuff apart from drinks and tobacco.

Yes,  I'm sure you're right. 

[dextrous63]

This is where facial recognition software would be mightily useful.  

Identify the offender, have their ugly mug on big screens everywhere, let alarms go off in any shop in which they enter to alert everyone there's a known crook around who has no compunction from stealing and thus making it more expensive and inconvenient for the rest of us.

Also, find them, put them in stocks like the old days, and let the police go to their homes to remove any or all items to be sold off to the value of the items stolen.

[Scrumpy]

Also, find them, put them in stocks like the old days, and let the police go to their homes to remove any or all items to be sold off to the value of the items stolen.

And we can nick some eggs from the shop to throw it at them..

[dextrous63]

😬😬😬😬😬😬

[JBR]

This is where facial recognition software would be mightily useful. 

Identify the offender, have their ugly mug on big screens everywhere, let alarms go off in any shop in which they enter to alert everyone there's a known crook around who has no compunction from stealing and thus making it more expensive and inconvenient for the rest of us.

Also, find them, put them in stocks like the old days, and let the police go to their homes to remove any or all items to be sold off to the value of the items stolen.

I agree, and such things as the stocks have been suggested by many people who are sick and tired of it.
Crime is on the increase simply because there are no real deterrents.

The Tories should have built more prisons and also made them a place no-one in their right mind would want to enter.  As I keep saying, six to a cell, severe restrictions as to what prisoners can do and where they can go - just like the Victorian prisons.
So many career criminals don't worry about a short stay in prison: they can have mobile phones to keep in touch with their gangs, they can take control of the weaker prisoners, they almost run the place.
Punishments must take place if we ever want to try to control crime, and the whingeing do-gooders can go and **** themselves.