Waitrose Sacks Employee After ‘Altercation’ With Shoplifter Stealing Easter Eggs

 Shop assistant Walker Smith, 54, was approached by a customer in a Waitrose store in Clapham Junction, South London, who told him someone had filled a shopping bag with Easter eggs.

Mr Smith recognised the shoplifter as a repeat offender and “grabbed the bag” from him.

The thief snatched the bag back and a tug-of-war ensued between the pair before the bag ripped and Lindt Gold Bunny eggs, which retail for £13 each, fell to the floor with one smashing to pieces.

With his plan foiled, the shoplifter sprinted out of the shop whilst Mr Smith picked up a piece of broken chocolate and “threw it out of frustration” in the direction of some shopping trolleys, but did not aim it at the thief.

He was scolded by his manager and had to apologise, but his superior still decided to escalate the matter higher – leaving Mr Smith to go home “punching” himself and questioning why he stopped the thief.

A few days later, Mr Smith was pulled into a meeting with two store managers.

Having a feeling about what was about to happen, he pleaded with his bosses and told them Waitrose is like his “family”.

But they still decided to fire their staff member of 17 years over the incident.

Mr Smith previously admitted staff had been told not to approach shoplifters but said he was spurred into action after watching thieves get away with stealing from the shop every hour of the day for the last five years. …<<<Read More>>>...