Employment course - Apprehending shoplifters

KevInChester

I was on an employment course last week when amongst other bits of bad advice we were told that if you were working and suspected somebody was shoplifting, it was your duty to go and apprehend them. I questioned this saying that until they had left the store no actual offence had been committed, and moreover you should be notifying security or a supervisor rather than dealing with it yourself.

The lady running the course said that the rules are you have to step in, but she would of course recommend taking another employee with you as back up. Is it just me that thinks this could lead to you being physically hurt, and more than likely being sacked for putting yourself in danger? Don't think there is any company that would be overly enamoured with a bunch of have a go heroes in their employ.

Another bit of advice she gave was to never declare if you've got 3 points on your licence unless the application specifically asks. Isn't this bad advice as I'm sure this can be put onto a CRB if the authorities deemed it necessary. Also it's very unlikely to result in a withdrawn job offer if you just mentioned it in the first place.

seafarers_wife

when i used to work in a supermarket (good 5 plus years ago) we were always told its not shoplifting until they leave the premises and were told in no uncertain terms never approach them ourselves, we were to notify a supervisor/manager and if we suspected someone and were on the kiosk away from the main shopping area we had a "code" to announce over the tannoy.

im of the opinion its not shoplifting/stealing till you leave the premises and i would never approach someone who i suspected especially in this day and age as you wouldnt know if you would get a mouthful of abuse or worse.

RobertoMoir

The "lady running the course" is a complete idiot and a menace.

If you apprehend a shoplifter, you're basically performing a citizen's arrest. There are quite a few rules attached to doing one of those properly, and I'd expect any employer to train you on what procedures they wanted you to follow .

Annisele

They don't actually have to leave the store to commit the offence. "A person is guilty of theft, if he dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it" - so, if you pick up Asda's bottle of rum with the intention of walking out without paying for it, you've committed theft. However, it's pretty hard to prove somebody didn't intend to pay when they haven't yet walked out, so stores usually let people leave the premises before they do anything.

A_Phoenix_of_Tangerine

Was this at Tesco, by any chance? I received the same advice when working as a temp over the Summer - pretty ridiculous, surely that is what security are paid and trained to do! And if you were to get assaulted, or perhaps even sued as a result of getting wrongly involved due to a suspicion only - would Tesco help you out / accept any accountability? Heck no, I'm sure they have legal get-out clauses right up to their eyeballs.

anamenottaken

KevInChester wrote: »

I was on an employment course last week when amongst other bits of bad advice we were told that if you were working and suspected somebody was shoplifting, it was your duty to go and apprehend them. I questioned this saying that until they had left the store no actual offence had been committed, and moreover you should be notifying security or a supervisor rather than dealing with it yourself.

The lady running the course said that the rules are you have to step in, but she would of course recommend taking another employee with you as back up. Is it just me that thinks this could lead to you being physically hurt, and more than likely being sacked for putting yourself in danger? Don't think there is any company that would be overly enamoured with a bunch of have a go heroes in their employ.

Another bit of advice she gave was to never declare if you've got 3 points on your licence unless the application specifically asks. Isn't this bad advice as I'm sure this can be put onto a CRB if the authorities deemed it necessary. Also it's very unlikely to result in a withdrawn job offer if you just mentioned it in the first place.

There is indeed no need to declare points on your licence unless you are asked about them. I think you will even find that such things are not included in CRB checks.

If the job for which you are applying requires you to drive a car, then it would be a relevant piece of information about you and they would ask about your licence. Then should say what, if any, points there are on your licence - and when they will be wiped off.

claire16c

Every shop Ive worked in has always said you can not do anything until the shoplifter has left the store. Or is literally about to step through it.

You can walk up to them and ask them if they want any help, just to make them aware they are being watched. But you cant just 'apprehend them' - whatever that would involve anyway? As they havent stolen anything if theyre still in the store.

TeaCake

Straight forward driving points (ie speeding) dont show up on a CRB, if you went to court over something (ie careless driving) and received then points then it would.

Ive worked in 4 supermarkets (but not Tesco) and the official line for the shop floor worker has always been inform your supervisor or a manager, do not approach the suspect, never leave the shop following a suspect and do not apprehend the suspect.

DCFC79

No your not meant to actually apprehend them as your not trained to do so plus if you got injured the employer wouldnt help out.

getmore4less

KevInChester wrote: »

I was on an employment course last week when amongst other bits of bad advice we were told that if you were working and suspected somebody was shoplifting, it was your duty to go and apprehend them. I questioned this saying that until they had left the store no actual offence had been committed, and moreover you should be notifying security or a supervisor rather than dealing with it yourself.

so whats the problem, YOU don't suspect anyone till they have left the building.

vax2002

before you have left the last point of payment requires the prosecution to prove intent.
A test case in Leeds tested this line of prosecution and it was thrown out,
XXX XXXXX vs morrisons Supermarket Leeds combined Courts
Accused arrested by store security whilst still inside store.
Judgement:
Unless last point of payment has been passed then someone's intent can not be appropriated after arrest, that the intent itself only become provable following the accused having surpassed any opportunity to affirm that intent.
As both store security and Employee personnel were in a position of monitoring the individual the passage of the accused past the point of payment would have had no conclusive change upon the circumstances other than to prove this intent which itself can not be fore-judged, the accused is Herby found innocent of all charges.
Right to appeal of prosecution refused