A Waitrose employee has been sacked after intervening in a shoplifting incident.
The incident centred on the theft of some Lindt bunnies (Image: Getty)
A long-serving Waitrose employee has been dismissed after intervening in a shoplifting incident involving Easter eggs, in a case that has drawn attention to rising retail theft and strict company policies on staff conduct.
Walker Smith, 54, had worked for the supermarket for 17 years before losing his job following the incident at a branch in Clapham Junction, south London. Mr Smith said he was alerted by a customer that someone had filled a shopping bag with chocolate Easter eggs and was attempting to leave the store without paying.
Describing the moment, Mr Smith told The Guardian: “I confronted the individual and grabbed the bag.” A brief struggle followed, during which the bag split and several Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs—worth about £13 each—fell to the floor. The shoplifter then fled the store.
One of the chocolate bunnies broke in the scuffle. Mr Smith admitted that, in frustration, he picked up a piece and threw it towards a row of shopping trolleys. He said he did not aim it at the shoplifter. He was subsequently reprimanded by his manager and apologised, but the incident was escalated internally and ultimately led to his dismissal.
Mr Smith said he had previously been instructed not to confront shoplifters, in line with company policy. However, he described growing frustration at the frequency of theft in the store, claiming incidents had become a daily occurrence over several years.
He also raised concerns about reduced security presence, alleging that guards were not always on duty during quieter periods, leaving shop floor staff to deal with situations indirectly. The emotional toll of repeated thefts, he said, contributed to his decision to intervene despite the risks.
The incident occurred at a shop in Clapham Junction (Image: Getty)
Following his dismissal, Mr Smith said he felt “demoralised” and worried about his future, including his ability to afford his recently acquired accommodation. He added that he regretted his actions and described reacting in a moment of frustration after years of witnessing similar incidents.
The case comes amid a broader rise in shoplifting across the UK. Official figures show more than 519,000 offences recorded in England and Wales in the year to September 2025, reflecting ongoing pressure on retailers and staff.
Retail industry groups have increasingly warned about the impact of theft and associated abuse on workers, with some business leaders calling for stronger government action to address what they describe as more organised and aggressive shoplifting.
A Waitrose spokeswoman said: “The safety and security of our Partners and customers couldn’t be more important to us, and we have policies in place to protect both.
“We’ve had incidents where our Partners have been hospitalised when challenging shoplifters. Luckily, they have always recovered, but that might not always be the case.
“There is a serious danger to life in tackling shoplifters. We refuse to put anyone’s life at risk and that’s why we have policies in place that are very clearly understood and must be strictly followed.
“As a responsible employer, we never want to be in a position where we are notifying families of a tragedy because someone tried to stop a theft. Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for.
“The reporting on this does not cover the full facts of the situation. While we would never be able to discuss an individual case, we can assure you the correct process is being followed, which includes a standard appeals procedure.
“We have campaigned for some time for more to be done to protect shop workers from offenders, including retail crime being made into a specific standalone offence.”