Middle class turning to shoplifting

[davieG]

Merc

A growing number of hard-up middle class people are turning to shoplifting, according to stores in Leicester.

Shops, including some of the city centre's upmarket chains, believe the recession is driving the trend.

In some cases, thieves have been caught stealing at shops where they were once valued and trusted customers.

Citywatch, the anti-crime group which helps businesses protect themselves from shoplifters, said it first noticed the trend a few weeks ago.

Graham Collins, the group's intelligence officer, said most of the culprits were women, aged 30 to 40, targeting chiefly cosmetics and perfumes.

He said: "It's a strange thing but we can only guess that it's something to do with people losing their jobs.

"Maybe they have had to give up the little luxuries they've always enjoyed because money is tight and they've reached the point where they've decided to steal them.

"It might be a spur of the moment, opportunist thing or it might be more deliberate, but there's definitely a growing number of middle class people doing this."

One store's security manager told the Mercury: "I think everyone has seen an increase in this type of theft. I can only guess it's because they don't have the money they used to have, and they are prepared to steal some of the luxuries they have had to give up.

"With the women we've caught here, it's expensive cosmetics, perfumes and hand-creams, and occasionally clothing.

"I've also heard from other shops of middle class men going for electrical equipment.

"In some cases, the people we've caught have been our bread-and-butter, customers who are known to us.

"When we catch them the reactions differ – some are very ashamed, while others say that shoplifting is a victimless crime and they believe we're insured for theft.

"We tell them that's not the case and that shops take the hit from shoplifting – tens of thousands of pounds a year in some cases."

Citywatch now routinely publishes convicted shoplifters' details from court records on its website.

Mr Collins said: "We hope that will be a deterrent to these people. As well as having a criminal record for the theft, they will also be exposed publicly."

Citywatch is offering free advice sessions to shops in the city to help staff combat theft.

For more information, visit:

www.citywatch-leicester.org.uk

[Finnegan]

Heh. A very sympathetic article about thievery that is. Bless them, these poor recession hit women stealing unnecessary frivolities because times are hard.

Funny how the language is never quite so forgiving when it's some kid off the estate on the rob for electronics to flog for cash.

[Nick]

Merc

A growing number of hard-up middle class people are turning to shoplifting, according to stores in Leicester.

Shops, including some of the city centre's upmarket chains, believe the recession is driving the trend.

In some cases, thieves have been caught stealing at shops where they were once valued and trusted customers.

Citywatch, the anti-crime group which helps businesses protect themselves from shoplifters, said it first noticed the trend a few weeks ago.

Graham Collins, the group's intelligence officer, said most of the culprits were women, aged 30 to 40, targeting chiefly cosmetics and perfumes.

He said: "It's a strange thing but we can only guess that it's something to do with people losing their jobs.

"Maybe they have had to give up the little luxuries they've always enjoyed because money is tight and they've reached the point where they've decided to steal them.

"It might be a spur of the moment, opportunist thing or it might be more deliberate, but there's definitely a growing number of middle class people doing this."

One store's security manager told the Mercury: "I think everyone has seen an increase in this type of theft. I can only guess it's because they don't have the money they used to have, and they are prepared to steal some of the luxuries they have had to give up.

"With the women we've caught here, it's expensive cosmetics, perfumes and hand-creams, and occasionally clothing.

"I've also heard from other shops of middle class men going for electrical equipment.

"In some cases, the people we've caught have been our bread-and-butter, customers who are known to us.

"When we catch them the reactions differ – some are very ashamed, while others say that shoplifting is a victimless crime and they believe we're insured for theft.

"We tell them that's not the case and that shops take the hit from shoplifting – tens of thousands of pounds a year in some cases."

Citywatch now routinely publishes convicted shoplifters' details from court records on its website.

Mr Collins said: "We hope that will be a deterrent to these people. As well as having a criminal record for the theft, they will also be exposed publicly."

Citywatch is offering free advice sessions to shops in the city to help staff combat theft.

For more information, visit:

www.citywatch-leicester.org.uk

With that sort of non speculative qualitative ethnographic research approach he should get his study published.

Mercury = Daily Mail

Edit: Oh and plus one for Finners.

[hairy]

Heh. A very sympathetic article about thievery that is. Bless them, these poor recession hit women stealing unnecessary frivolities because times are hard.

Funny how the language is never quite so forgiving when it's some kid off the estate on the rob for electronics to flog for cash.

Even worse when you consider language used by the press and the sentences being handed out by the courts for stealing and even handling stolen goods even if its a bag of rice following last summer's riots.

Mercury = Daily Mail

They are owned by the same group.

[Daggers]

I just don't believe it...

[Corky]

Bloody riff-raff.

[Finnegan]

Even worse when you consider language used by the press and the sentences being handed out by the courts for stealing and even handling stolen goods even if its a bag of rice following last summer's riots.

They are owned by the same group.

I was going to make that comparison but I thought it was a bit of a minefield because the rioters didn't just steal, there was a lot of gleeful destruction of property.

[Captain...]

The rioters had there fair share of middle class twats too.

I have more sympathy with the poor and impoverished stealing to survive than I do this lot stealing luxury high end items, it's all this keeping up appearances bolox, status and saving face is more important than admitting you are not as well off as you once were. Just as bad are those getting themselves into further debt by trying to maintain their old lifestyle, when, through circumstances out of their control they now can't.

This crisis has affected millions, lets drop the act and just accept it, we are fvcked, the first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem.

"Hi, my name is Chantelle Bottomley Smythe and I am poor."

[Daggers]

Anyone called Chantelle has hooped ear-rings, fake tan and an IQ challenging that of goldfish.

[Finnegan]

yes I was going to say, I think this is more about the Margarets and Valeries, not the Chelseas and Chantelles.

[1964FOX]

So the people who look down on the working class are turning to criminality to steal luxury items. How the mighty fall, I'm sure they still won't see themselves on a par with us nasty estate people though.

[Daggers]

So the people who look down on the working class are turning to criminality to steal luxury items. How the mighty fall, I'm sure they still won't see themselves on a par with us nasty estate people though.

I believe TPH is thinking about getting an estate, do I need to be looking down upon him?

[MrSpaM]

"FVCK it, I’m off to steal a Ferrari because times are hard"

Yeh thats how stupid the people in the article sound

[Corky]

"Hi, my name is Chantelle Bottomley Smythe and I am poor."

Sounds like a character out of Harry Enfield and Chums.

[I am Rod Hull]

Sounds like a character out of Harry Enfield and Chums.

[MooseBreath]

The liberals have made it the norm for poor people to take what's not theirs on order to achieve a higher standard of living, while the rich have been gleefully robbing everyone blond for centuries, so it's hardly surprising to see the middle get in on the act.

We seem to be in a desperate downward cycle where entitlement culture is overriding any sense of fairness.

[I am Rod Hull]

The liberals have made it the norm for poor people to take what's not theirs on order to achieve a higher standard of living, while the rich have been gleefully robbing everyone blond for centuries, so it's hardly surprising to see the middle get in on the act.

We seem to be in a desperate downward cycle where entitlement culture is overriding any sense of fairness.

So that`s why we don`t get many Swedish tourists...

[hairy]

I was going to make that comparison but I thought it was a bit of a minefield because the rioters didn't just steal, there was a lot of gleeful destruction of property.

Yes I agreed. But one person has a jail term for receiving stolen goods (as I recall a pair of knickers) and they took no part in the riots. Others received a jail term to suggesting there should be a riot on facebook.

[mhs123]

in the shop i work a well to do lady ate half a pack of mintos and left the rest on the shelf,she was doing it with all sorts of things,batty old bag. now banned

[Rincewind]

Could some shop lifting be accidental? You are more likely to get caught yet it seems easier. If you are getting old like me there is the odd absent minded occasion when walking around a supermarket that you nearly put an item in a shopping bag. Never done it but have thought how easy it would be for somebody who has other things on their minds. The shelves are stacked and it would also be easy to leave something in a trolley when at the till push the trolley though and put your shopping in the trolley which may have bags covering the missing item.

And finally what about a Mother and a young toddley. Sweets and crisps are toddler high and a moment of distraction could result in little tea leafs.

[21st Century Fox]

I've only ever stolen three things; thunder, limelight and hearts (what an unfortunate transplant mishap that was).

[1964FOX]

I believe TPH is thinking about getting an estate, do I need to be looking down upon him?

Absolutely Daggers it will just be somewhere to fence all the knock off merchandise.

[Captain...]

yes I was going to say, I think this is more about the Margarets and Valeries, not the Chelseas and Chantelles.

To me the Chantelles are the middle class faux posh. They have/had the money but not the class and are now desperately trying to cling on to their status.

The Valeries and Margarets of this world are ok.

[Guest]

Well, they've been trying to get away with it with their credit cards, have the pseudo- middle classes...

[The People's Hero]

Could some shop lifting be accidental? You are more likely to get caught yet it seems easier. If you are getting old like me there is the odd absent minded occasion when walking around a supermarket that you nearly put an item in a shopping bag. Never done it but have thought how easy it would be for somebody who has other things on their minds. The shelves are stacked and it would also be easy to leave something in a trolley when at the till push the trolley though and put your shopping in the trolley which may have bags covering the missing item.

And finally what about a Mother and a young toddley. Sweets and crisps are toddler high and a moment of distraction could result in little tea leafs.

I think generally the idea is you empty your trolley on to the conyeyor belt till thing prior to rushing through with your trolley and putting bags back in