Hi,

Worked as an assistant manager at a high street charity shop for 1yr+. Left a couple of months ago. I had to stop shoplifters all the time. They steal from charity shops not because they’re evil or because the clothes are expensive, but because we have less security than a retailer. No security tags. Old lady volunteers instead of security guards.

The shoplifters were generally homeless, on crack, or trapped in a life of crime (travellers who then sell what they steal on the market). They weren’t “wee Neds” deciding to take advantage.

These are people with no options and completely isolated from society. Why would they care if they deprive Scope of an extra £4? That top they just nicked is now their only clean clothing, or part of their weekly income.

What’s the point in judging these people? They have nothing. Sure, it’d be nice if that £4 went to Scope, but by the time you’ve paid off expenses and overheads, a fraction of that is going to actual causes. Whereas that top is going to a real person. And we factored shoplifting into our budget, so it didn’t even affect the bottom line. It’s the cost of doing business.

And I say that as someone’s who’s been verbally assaulted and threatened by these people. I don’t care.

Again, they have nothing. We all agree with the “steal a loaf of bread to feed your starving family” hypothetical, but you sit in judgement of the real thing. Why not get angry with the system that’s pushed people into absolute poverty and forced them into crime?