I’ve stopped shoplifters – I wish more people did the same | UK News

Recently I apprehended a bike thief in east London and used what I perceived to be reasonable force to keep him there until the police arrived. 

I felt confident alone, being a big guy and having trained in various martial arts for almost two decades, but what cheered me was that several passersby came over and asked me if I needed any assistance. 

As thefts continue to rise, this is the kind of resolve and community spirit the country needs to display more of if we’re gonna stop the brazen shoplifters from running amok.

That incident a few months ago wasn’t the first time I stopped a shoplifter. I was about 16 years old. A shifty looking man attempted to leave my local Asda, in Dudley, with a few bottles of vodka he didn’t fancy paying for.

Under normal circumstances, I would have simply kept myself to myself and not got involved, but I felt compelled to intervene because several shop assistants, mostly young women, were struggling with the man to no avail .

So I jumped into the fray and helped the large group wrestle the prospective criminal to the floor.

I didn’t feel particularly brave or proud of myself for what I did, I only felt that I had to get involved because everyone else was doing the right thing. 

Frankly, I was worried about the others intervening, and instinct kicked in. 

I’ve been thinking about those incidents a lot recently, because shoplifting is exploding in the UK and too many of us feel like there is nothing we can do about it.

Retailers are now warning of an epidemic as shoplifting related costs soar towards £1billion.

Things have got so bad that discount retailer Home Bargains have even announced a hotline to report thieves, with good Samaritans in line for up to £500 if they help secure a conviction.

But we shouldn’t just speak up because there’s potentially money on the line – I am here to tell the people of Britain that if they see someone shoplifting they could, and more importantly, should, go further than phoning it in – to take action. 

For some, of course, that may mean a return to the days of the have-a-go hero, stepping in to, if possible, restrain a shoplifter within the law until security or the police can apprehend them.

But I’m not advocating that everyone steps in physically, because that is potentially dangerous. 

There are plenty of other approaches we can take, whether that’s subtly signalling to a nearby security guard, telling other staff, or maybe just calling out the perpetrator from a safe distance in the hope that embarrassment might help deter them. 

The point is – crime is wrong, and we all have to play a part in stopping it.

I am of course sympathetic to those who are on the breadline and have been struggling more than others during the cost of living crisis. 

These people need support and they should not be going hungry in a society as rich as ours. If I saw parents shoplifting baby food, for example, I’d step in – but only to offer to pay for the items. 

That sympathy does not extend to those who are simply stealing for a quick buck or for personal gain.

Police resources have been depleted by years of cuts, and we need more officers that are readily available to tackle this scourge. 

But right now, we simply don’t have the numbers – I want those able in society to help out and be vigilant until we can up the number of actual serving police officers who can help. 

You may wonder whether I truly practice what I preach, but do I say this as someone who has stopped thieves a few times in my life.

That is exactly why I feel so strongly about us all doing our part to correct wrong doing. If the weakest of us can stand up and prevent injustice, then the more able of us should also do so, no matter what form that takes.

Being part of society is more than simply looking out for yourself. We have a social contract and responsibility to make the lives of all of us better and safer. It is our obligation. 

The point is – crime is wrong, and we all have to play a part in stopping it

If we turn a blind eye we are essentially saying that we accept it and thus we encourage people to commit crime.

Historically, when it comes to raising children, we used to say ‘it takes a village’, but that same collective attitude should be applied to all aspects of society. 

We cannot rely purely on the police to maintain safety and order alone – we need to take some responsibility ourselves.

So why aren’t more Britons doing their civic duty?

I understand the vast majority of us will justifiably fear for our safety and have reservations when it comes to intervening, but taking action doesn’t need to involve physically restraining someone – and if we don’t make a stand we will all suffer.

The cost of groceries will only continue to rise if supermarkets have to invest in heightened security protocols to combat theft. 

So we will all pay more to facilitate the small number of criminals who operate outside of the acceptable norms of society.

Now more than ever we need to have the British stereotypical stiff upper lip to take on criminals, in whatever way we deem necessary, to deter them from thieving. 

I don’t expect everyone to tackle a shoplifter to the ground, but until more of us step in, the threat to society and community from thieves will only get worse. 

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk. 

Share your views in the comments below.

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