Thief @ charity shop

poet123

My mother used to volunteer at a charity shop but even though she was over 65 and 5ft 1, she had previously been a store detective, and so when she started work there the incidence of shoplifting went down spectacularly. They really didnt expect to be challenged by an old dear! a common practice was to go and try on clothes and then put your own clothes over the new ones and pretend you had put them back on the rails. My mother soon put a stop to that one!

imajica

amcluesent wrote: »

Aren't the naughtiest peeps the volunteers who slip a 50p price on the good stuff when sorting, then buy it themselves?

This couldn't happen in any of the shops i've been a part of. The volunteer obviously cannot serve themselves on the till and the manager/deputy isn't going to let them buy an expensive item for 50p Plus there is a staff purchases book that gets signed off by the area manager frequently with receipts attached. If that didn't look representative of real purchases there would be hell to pay. I do wish people didn't always think the worse of us

EastEndLass

I've been in charity retail for 20 years, and there are some despicable and occasionally totally blatant thefts. And to the person who asked, no, the charities are NOT insured for this - there is no way you can insure for it.

Also, generally paid managers are the only ones who price stuff up, and staff/volunteers can only purchase AFTER it has been priced up and a different person has to ring the sale through.

FRUIT_SALAD

Not so much an actual thief who came into the shop but where i volunteered a woman i used to work with stole £5000 from the charity.:eek:

We all thought she was such a lovely person.

The shop has a lock on the changing room so i had to open it for people.

Thought of another!

We were selling those dvds/cds you get in mags for 5 for a £1 (and in the end just a donation) i saw an old man pick up five and put them behind his bag, walked around a bit then put them in his pocket, i pulled my manager and the old man saw and quickly paid.

I worked in the dodgy area of town so the druggies would come in and litterly pick up about 3 pairs of jeans roll them up and walk out.

people have no shame. Its disgusting!

FRUIT_SALAD

EastEndLass wrote: »

Also, generally paid managers are the only ones who price stuff up, and staff/volunteers can only purchase AFTER it has been priced up and a different person has to ring the sale through.

I used to do all the pricing for bags, shoes/trainers and jewellery.

So if it was a bag id fairly price it (coz im not thieving scum and i didn't always have money on me so i'd just put it out if i didnt have any on me) and i'd get the manager to put it through with the discount. I always felt bad taking the discount but they wouldn't let me have it at full price :P

soolin

I buy direct (ie before it is shelved) at one charity shop and they all price the stuff there, volunteer or not. The other one i sometimes help out with (Mainly carrying boxes up and own stairs) also allow any of their regulars to price up stuff, they also do all help themselves to anything that takes their fancy.

Dizzie77

Lots of thieving happening in Gloucester..
http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Thieves-target-city-centre-charity-shops/article-2273609-detail/article.html

Very sad state of affairs if you have to steal from charity.

Penda

Watch your handbag in charity shops,lots of purses stolen while people are rummaging no security cameras so easy for the thief between the rails.

POPPYOSCAR

Some people don't even go into the shop - they take the stuff that people have donated and left outside when the shop is closed.I do wish people who donate wouldn't do that - don't they realize it gets taken.

pelirocco

Penda wrote: »

Watch your handbag in charity shops,lots of purses stolen while people are rummaging no security cameras so easy for the thief between the rails.

That happened to my mum 3 weeks ago , she had been to the cash point , drew out £100 ( she was coming up for my sons wedding ) went into a charity shop and someone stole her purse . luckily she had her bus pass in her pocket and even though she is 79 shes pretty fit and capable ( lol ) . Although by the time she got home she was very shaken up by it :mad: