Shoplifting has become all too common in the UK in recent years but it appears that very little can be done to stop it.
That was the sad reality for a Morrisons worker of three decades recently who lost his job after confronting what he described as a serial shoplifting offender, who spat at him on his way out of the shop.
Sean Egan was already frustrated with the wave of shoplifting that all too often goes unpunished, and the spitting incident perhaps sent him over the edge, as he intervened and the two men had a physical altercation.
This goes against the advice that all staff members are given and the store manager controversially lost his job, leaving the married father without any wages since January.
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Sean, who had worked for the company since the age of 17, admitted on LinkedIn that he is struggling for work since losing his job and reflected more on the incident that saw him dismissed.
He wrote: "Dismissed from Morrisons after 29 years. After nearly three decades at Morrisons. This isn't just my story. It reflects the experiences of so many people who have reached out to me privately.
"I'm determined to make sure those voices are heard. In that moment, I reacted as a human being. And after 29 years of doing everything I could for the business, that's something I stand by. I want to say a genuine thank you to everyone who tuned in, reached out and shared support. It means more than I can put into words. All I've ever wanted is to be heard. And I'll continue to speak up, not just for myself, but for others who feel they haven't been listened to.
"I don't think people understand what this really does to someone. Just 3 weeks before Christmas… I was asking myself one question… How am I going to give my kids the Christmas they deserve? I joined Morrisons at 17. It wasn't just a job. It was my identity. My life. My purpose. 29 years of loyalty. And now… it's gone."
Considering the cost of living crisis, which has combined poor wages with rising prices in the supermarkets, it's no surprise that so many people are feeling forced into shoplifting, but Sean was less tolerant with Daniel Kendall, who was reportedly attempting to steal two bottles of whisky worth £50 from the Morrisons store in the West Midlands.
Sean added: "Like many stores, we were dealing with frequent shoplifting, especially during peak Christmas period. On this occasion, the individual was a well-known, prolific offender in the area. I followed company policy, approached calmly, offered help, and then escorted him from the store when needed. But as we neared the exit, I was spat at. In that moment, I reacted. Not as a manager. As a human being. That split second changed everything.
"Despite nearly three decades of loyalty, performance, and commitment, including turning numerous underperforming stores into some of the most profitable in the West Midlands, I lost my job."
Sean isn't the only supermarket employee to suffer this fate, as a Waitrose worker was sacked in similar circumstances over the Easter period when someone tried to make off with some chocolate eggs.
In a statement, a Morrisons spokesperson previously said: "We are continuing to take wide ranging action to address the threat of shoplifting or violence in our stores.
"The health and safety of all colleagues and customers is of paramount importance to Morrisons.
"We have very clear guidance, procedures and controls in place to protect our colleagues and customers from the risk of harm, which must be strictly followed.
"These include detailed procedures for handling shoplifting incidents, which are in place to protect both the colleague involved and surrounding colleagues and customers, and which seek to de-escalate and calmly control the situation.
"We will not ask colleagues to put themselves at risk.
"As a responsible employer, our focus is entirely on taking the correct action to ensure health and safety is maintained at all times."
Topics: Cost of Living, UK News
James Moorhouse