Forum Topic

Thieves in John Lewis, Oxford Street

We were entering John Lewis yesterday via the back entrance when a man and woman barged past me and my 3 year old, crashing into her buggy.  Something about them looked urgent and as I turned to look at them I noticed lots of bags (not John Lewis ones) and one was open.  It was crammed with suits still on their hangers.  At that point the alarm went off as we stood watching them scurry away.  Did anyone come?  Security?  No.  No-one at all.  So, off I sped to find someone in the shop.  Took me about 2 mins, by which time the robbers had gone.On talking to the staff there it seems "there is no security, you are looking at it....me" said the man we eventually tracked down.  I was bristling with frustration and wished we'd rugby tackled the pair to the floor ourselves in hindsight (although husband is more cautious than me).So, I guess we let them get away with it as it's far cheaper to let thieves clean up and clear off with hundreds of pounds worth of goods than pay employees a salary and probably a pension, sick leave, annual leave and support their family and protect John Lewis.  I bet this store isn't the only one who adopts this policy.  Whatever's cheaper I suppose but I'm appalled.  Why should we let thieves get away with such behaviour on account that it's cheaper not to man the doors?  What's the deterrent?  Who's protecting the customer, after all, if there are thieves in the store, attracted to it because of the lack of security, surely the customer is at risk of theft too?I'm not happy and I'm emailing the management at John Lewis.  I'll let you know the outcome.

Angela White ● 5541d16 Comments

They would not get away with it in Selfriges.Have you tried www.johnlewis.com?  I find them very good.

Nicola Howard ● 5541d

John Lewis is actually a pretty good place to work, one of the best companys apparently. They're a co-operative which means they actually take their staffs views seriously and are all part owners in the company (therefore annually rewarded with a share of the profits).While your employer/staff relationship view may be applicable in many many other companies, it's not fair to prejudice all with it.On the cost side, I suppose it's up to them how they secure the store. The security to the customers you have a valid point though.

Ramesh Kanabar ● 5540d

Yes, they are a terrific firm to work for and my in-law's family work there in large quantities (although it's not appropriate for me to talk to them about this issue).No, I'm not prejudicing all with my view as this is what the security man and the staff there told me on Sunday.  They aren't happy with it by the sounds of things.I agree it's up to JL on how they secure their store but I don't agree that they should have the choice on whether they do so or not!  I don't fancy walking around the store knowing that it may attract larger numbers of thieves just because security isn't a priority.  I don't think that's fair on the customer or staff.

Angela White ● 5540d

It's also jolly expensive. (the policy not the never knowingly undersold shop)I cant remember what the budget of West End stores is for "shrinkage" but it is startlingly high and we shoppers pay for it in the end.

Sara Nathan ● 5540d

some shops have to have security in place as part of their insurance policies. Shops such as Tesco, Morrisons mainly use contracted security guards as it is a) cheaper wage wise and b) The security company supplying the guards will also cover thier guards insurance.A security guard will be told by his company that his insurance will only cover the guard in the building they are posted to. so once the thief has left the building they are in theory supposed to stop chasing because if anything goes wrong i.e the guard gets hurt or the thief gets hurt they are on their own.Having worked for Tesco's years ago they do have a colossal shrink (unaccounted loss) budget that does get passed onto the customer. The stores tend to fiddle this year after year. If the store comes in at the end of year not using up all their shrink budget the next finacial year they will have thier shrink budget shrunk. Oh and all stolen goods are valued at shelf valueThe cost gets passed onto the customer if its through stores putting the prices up to cover stolen goods or stores investing in good security guards.

Michael Barker ● 5540d

Thanks Michael, very informative.

Angela White ● 5540d

I agree selfridges us very different. I recall a documentary on their security and it is or was very hard on shoplifters.

Munira Khan ● 5539d

unfortunately shop lifting is something impossible to stop. for a start there is no deterrent for those who commit the crime, If the criminal does get caught and detained they will most likely recieve an £80 fine from the police and a store banning order from the shop concerned, which means nothing really.Shops like Tesco train their staff not to approach shoplifters. Im guessing this is not down to the safety of the staff but how much it would cost them if the member of staff sued them if they were injured detaining a shoplifter.Shoplifters know this and exploit the fact, start being aggressive the staff will back off so they can make their escape.I would imagine/hope Selfridges would have excellent security. If they got a reputaions as being a soft target for shoplifters the store would be stripped bare of stock. I have heard horror stories of what the security team did to one prolific shoplifter, It'd put me off stealing!

Michael Barker ● 5539d

The weakest link is the punishment end of things.  We're too soft in this country.  £80?  Worth the risk I would think.I really wish I'd tackled the shoplifters.  What is the fitting crime for a shoplifter?  Any ideas?  I think making them do some sort of public service and for longer than a week of course AND a large fine AND a ban from shopping for a year at least AND having their face printed in the local newspaper.  I'd chop off their hands but I don't like mess.

Angela White ● 5539d

AngelaTry hanging, drawing and quartering.  Very efficient in days of yore

Nicola Howard ● 5539d

Stocks on King Street. people could donate money to charity by throwing things like sponges, rotten fruit or bricks at the theives. But we must remember the criminals feelings are the priority in the legal system!

Michael Barker ● 5539d

And if you'd got your head kicked in? Or gotten knifed?

Roy Gillett ● 5538d

So efficient, in fact, that they had to do it to increasing numbers of peopleDuring public hangings in the 17th and 18th centuries, pickpockets would work the crowds as pickpockets were dropping from the gibbets

Roy Gillett ● 5538d

Possibility, yes.  But it was crowded, so chances are not.  I feel so strongly about it I was/am willing to take that chance.  Perhaps not doing so in an aggressive way may help.  I reckon they would have legged it anyway.That's the problem I think.....too many scared people around.  What ifs, what ifs.  What if we all put our foot down?

Angela White ● 5538d

Not heard a sausage back from John Lewis so far.

Angela White ● 5538d

Still not a sausage from them.

Angela White ● 5531d