ALDI - would you report it if you thought a crime had been committed?

Sarah3 · 03-04-2016 09:02PM #1

So I went to Aldi this evening and just after walking in the entrance doors I spot this guy carrying what I thought at the time was a hoover walking straight out the entrance doors obviously without paying. I'm standing there for a couple of seconds wondering what I should do. I look around for a security guard but cant see any so I go up to one of the tills and explain to the cashier what I just saw. His only response to me is to ask if this happened just now. I respond yes, he says 'ok' and just continues checking the lady out so I walk away and do my shop.

As I'm walking around the store I notice that what the man left with was not in fact a hoover but a €130 steamer.

Then when I'm checking out I spot the security guard and I mention to him what i'd seen. His reaction suggests he wasn't informed of the incident but also he didn't seem that bothered and coming away from the store I could only think to myself why I did bother. The staff at Aldi didn't seem to care less that someone had stolen a significant item from their store and I certainly didn't even receive as much as a 'thank you' for bringing it to their attention.

The whole episode has left such a sour taste with me that I am questioning if I saw the same thing happening again should I just turn a blind eye?

What would you have done?

kneemos · 03-04-2016 09:06PM

Sarah3 wrote: »

What would you have done?

Walked out with a steamer,obviously they don't mind.

Arsemageddon · 03-04-2016 09:07PM

Might have been this fella...

LeeJM · 03-04-2016 09:07PM

Followed the guy out and ask him to go back in and get me one. Or offer him €30 for the one in his hands

tracey turnblad · 03-04-2016 09:09PM

There was nothing that could be done at that stage. How did you know for definite it was stolen? A security man cannot stop someone unless he sees the whole thing go down with his own eyes... And usually on camera so they have evidence for police. If a customer is stopped in the wrong they can claim compensation of over €10000. That is why they always err on the side of caution and will never stop someone unless 110% certain and have Sen it all go down with their own eyes

Hande hoche! · 03-04-2016 09:11PM

If they were on a hoverboard, then yes.

Buona Fortuna · 03-04-2016 09:14PM

Are they Karcher or the ALDI Acme make?

Jan Laco · 03-04-2016 09:16PM

Are you sure he hadn't paid for it at the till without carrying it and waiting at a queue with it and gone back to get it on the way out?

I've seen this happen before.

And perhaps the guy at the till didn't want to explain it and continue with the customer at hand? Just an alternative jump to conclusion.

galah · 03-04-2016 09:17PM

Could have been a simple exchange as well, or something similarly innocent. ( happened to me before, with a bag of frozen veg - noticed after checkout it was broken, mentioned it to cashier, he said just to pick up a new bag - so to someone who didnt know what was happening it looked like i stole it as i just walked in again, grabbed a bag of frozen veg and left...)

Just sayin'.

kneemos · 03-04-2016 09:17PM

Shoplifting in Aldi is a cry for help.

freshpopcorn · 03-04-2016 09:25PM

I've seen people in shops pay for something then go back into the shop to look for something and go out the entrance door because they didn't want to be pushing past people at the till again or it was just more convenient when they saw the door open!

MacauDragon · 03-04-2016 09:59PM

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I've seen people in shops pay for something then go back into the shop to look for something and go out the entrance door because they didn't want to be pushing past people at the till again or it was just more convenient when they saw the door open!

I haaaate that. Let me out you generic yellowpack bastards.

vicwatson · 03-04-2016 10:04PM

What? ALDI has security staff???

FizzleSticks · 03-04-2016 10:10PM

This post has been deleted.

RWCNT · 04-04-2016 11:55AM

Don't be a rat, OP.

BlimpyBoy · 04-04-2016 12:25PM

vicwatson wrote: »

What? ALDI has security staff???

You've seen him.

Its that fat guy in a suit messing on his phone in the packing area.

04-04-2016 12:31PM

tracey turnblad wrote: »

A security man cannot stop someone unless he sees the whole thing go down with his own eyes...

sugarman wrote: »

They cant do anything unless they physically see the guy pick up the steam cleaner and leave without paying themselves.

Hadn't heard this before. Obviously they can't wade in with cries of stop thief, but would have thought they are entitled to say "do you mind if I ask to see a receipt" type stuff.

But it's probably an exchange, have done it myself with Lidl stuff. Just said it to staff and they said change away and head off.

Oasis1974 · 04-04-2016 12:35PM

Aldi have no security guards because there's no one mental enough to shoplift the crap.

me_irl · 04-04-2016 12:36PM

*puts on cynicism hat*

1. How did you know he wasn't replacing it with another box and checked that with a member of staff?
2. Maybe the security guard was just humouring you as per point 1.
3. You weren't physically of financially hurt from this incident, why dwell?

"What would I have done?"

Thought, "that's odd"... and continued to go about my business. I've too much of my own bullsh*t to worry about.

kneemos · 04-04-2016 12:45PM

me_irl wrote: »

*puts on cynicism hat*

1. How did you know he wasn't replacing it with another box and checked that with a member of staff?
2. Maybe the security guard was just humouring you as per point 1.
3. You weren't physically of financially hurt from this incident, why dwell?

"What would I have done?"

Thought, "that's odd"... and continued to go about my business. I've too much of my own bullsh*t to worry about.

He was being a good citizen.Commendable he made an effort,even if he was ignored.

Paramite Pie · 04-04-2016 12:58PM

Sarah3 wrote: »

The whole episode has left such a sour taste with me that I am questioning if I saw the same thing happening again should I just turn a blind eye?

What would you have done?

What should the cashier have done? Run off and rugby tackle the customer who's by now getting into their car?

By the time you saw the security guard the customer had likely driven off. Perhaps he could chase after him and jump on the roof of the car in a high speed chase??

Or he could check the camera. Once they've left the building - that's all they can really do unless they've witnessed it. The checkout staff may not be allowed leave the till - they'd tell security when they see them.

04-04-2016 01:38PM

How do you know he didn't pay for it

eeguy · 04-04-2016 01:45PM

RWCNT wrote: »

Don't be a rat, OP.

Don't so anything to stop those shoplifting scumbags who don't give two sh*ts about acting like civilized, moral people?

Great attitude.

OP, I would have probably asked for the manager and mentioned it to him. In fairness, security isn't a cashiers responsibility so not surprised he doesn't care.

Deleted User wrote: »

How do you know he didn't pay for it

Who cares? If he did pay, I'm sure a look at the cameras would prove it.
If he didn't, then some action should be taken, or are those "Shoplifters will be prosecuted" signs just for show?

04-04-2016 01:58PM

eeguy wrote: »

Who cares? If he did pay, I'm sure a look at the cameras would prove it.
If he didn't, then some action should be taken, or are those "Shoplifters will be prosecuted" signs just for show?

It was a genuine question. Should I accuse everyone walking out of Aldi of shoplifting? You know, just to be on the safe side

Speedwell · 04-04-2016 02:01PM

How did you know he didn't have the receipt in his pocket? I mean, what were they going to do, put it in a bag for him?

Baron Kurtz · 04-04-2016 02:02PM

I'm distraught you didn't get your pat on the back! The nerve.

kneemos · 04-04-2016 02:03PM

Speedwell wrote: »

How did you know he didn't have the receipt in his pocket? I mean, what were they going to do, put it in a bag for him?

Why was he going out the in door I believe raised the suspicion.

westcoast66 · 04-04-2016 02:07PM

Its probably cheaper for ALDI to let people steal **** then employ a security guard!

Speedwell · 04-04-2016 02:14PM

kneemos wrote: »

Why was he going out the in door I believe raised the suspicion.

Oh, was that it? I always wondered why Wal-Mart posted receipt checkers at the exit, but not at the entrance. Obviously carrying merchandise out of the entrance doors is fine with the entire retail industry

OK, I was in Lidl myself yesterday. IIRC it is possible to go out the exit doors if you first wait in the long line (since there is no room to go past) or else open one of those gates that swing to block a closed checkout line. If I need to leave and I don't have anything to pay for (no, I am not a shoplifter, wise guys), I usually open one of those line-blocking gates. The looks of murder I get when I am doing this would have chased the Christians back out of the island of Ireland. I have obviously committed a grave felony against propriety by challenging the God-given authority of six or seven feet of bent steel piping on a hinge.

If I had gone in to exchange something and the option of simply opening a gate was anathema to me, I suppose I would have carried it through the entrance door.

Oh, well, evil-minded people will see wickedness in everything, I suppose. Curtain-twitching must get boring after a while.

smash · 04-04-2016 02:53PM

Do they still offer kilo's of cocaine with their bananas?

maudgonner · 04-04-2016 02:57PM

smash wrote: »

Do they still offer kilo's of cocaine with their bananas?

Nope, only with the buns.

(Topical reference there)

ALDI - would you report it if you thought a crime had been committed?

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