Can he stop the thief?

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A few weeks ago I was in a I_____d supermarket. I was waiting in the queue at the self-service machine. I heard a commotion by the exit. I saw a middle aged lady with a huge suitcase (on wheels) trying to leave the store. There was a struggle with the security guard, who was holding a part of the suitcase to stop the woman leaving. Then two other staff members came to help. The woman swore at the staff and walked out empty handed.
When the suitcase was opened, it was full of food, drinks and toiletries.
Why didn't the security guard detain the lady and call the police?
 
Police don't care, too much hassle, too much chance of him being carted away by the police instead/told off by his boss.

I used to work pub/club security in some proper rough places but one thing I'd never have done is retail security.
 
A few weeks ago I was in a I_____d supermarket. I was waiting in the queue at the self-service machine. I heard a commotion by the exit. I saw a middle aged lady with a huge suitcase (on wheels) trying to leave the store. There was a struggle with the security guard, who was holding a part of the suitcase to stop the woman leaving. Then two other staff members came to help. The woman swore at the staff and walked out empty handed.
When the suitcase was opened, it was full of food, drinks and toiletries.
Why didn't the security guard detain the lady and call the police?

Is this one of those “asking for a friend” type questions - and you’re actually the old lady?!
 
Name omitted to protect their high integrity :) but I would have thought they could have called the police and restrain her but suspect they don't care as nothing will happen and likely back again a few days later?
 
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For a time the police had a policy of not investigating shoplifting under the value of £200. I think it’s being rolled back, but that’s been the way for a while. So there’s basically no point detaining anyone as you’re more likely to get in trouble for that, than they are to get in trouble for nicking stuff.
 
For a time the police had a policy of not investigating shoplifting under the value of £200. I think it’s being rolled back, but that’s been the way for a while. So there’s basically no point detaining anyone as you’re more likely to get in trouble for that, than they are to get in trouble for nicking stuff.

The place I worked at didn't like me noticing and stopping theft, biggest one was huge shopping trolley filled to the brim of stuff. Not only did they not like me stopping them, they worked me out of the business.

Oh well, at least on the same money now :D
 
There will be various reasons they don't aim to detain people - primarily I expect it's store policy to not want the entrance/exit to the store to become a hotspot for potentially violent confrontations between shoplifters and security, putting off other customers, so will have a blanket 'don't detain' policy, especially for the sake of values they're probably throwing away in fresh produce anyway half the time.
 
What's the actual role of a security guard in a non-detainment world? Is it the same as that security guard in that video who does floaty hands over stadium visitors instead of a pat down?
 
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because he'd have to detain them for probably an hour before someone turns up with them spitting on him the whole time.

seems like they just recover the goods from what i've witnessed.

I saw one at morrisons the other month the security shouted "I've got your bike" lol... the guy parked his bike next to the shop doors but ran past it when being chased.

also shoplifters can have hundreds of suspended sentences in a row

prisons are a revolving door, for someone to go in someone has to be released.... they dont want to waste spaces on "little crime"
 
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I saw one at morrisons the other month the security shouted "I've got your bike" lol... the guy parked his bike next to the shop doors but ran past it when being chased.

Odds on the bike was stolen anyway so the shoplifter probably didn't give a **** :p
 
Odds on the bike was stolen anyway so the shoplifter probably didn't give a **** :p
it was still funny though the guy seemed really angry as the security guard pushed the bike in the store and parked it next to his little cctv plinth or whatever you call them.
 
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