Supermarket Employee Fired After Stopping Lindt Chocolate Bunny Thief

Walker Smith, a 54-year-old employee of 17 years at Waitrose, has been dismissed from his position at the retailer’s Clapham Junction branch in south London after intervening to stop a shoplifter.

The incident occurred when Smith was alerted by a customer that an individual had filled a Waitrose bag with Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs, which retail for £13 each. Smith identified the suspect as a repeat offender known to the store staff.

According to Smith, he confronted the individual and grabbed the bag. This led to a brief struggle during which the bag tore, causing the chocolate eggs to spill across the floor. The shoplifter subsequently fled the premises.

Following the scuffle, Smith stated that one of the chocolate bunnies had broken into pieces. In a moment of frustration, he picked up a piece of the chocolate and threw it toward some shopping trolleys. Smith emphasized that he did not aim the piece at the shoplifter.

Dismissal and Company Policy

Smith reported that he was reprimanded by his manager and offered an apology, but the matter was escalated. Within days, he was called into a meeting and dismissed from the company. He described the experience of being escorted out through the back of the store as leaving him feeling demoralized.

The dismissal follows company instructions that Smith said he had previously received, which prohibited employees from approaching or physically intervening with shoplifters.

Smith stated that the decision to act was spurred by the frequency of thefts at the store. He claimed to have witnessed such incidents occurring every hour of every day for the last five years, involving a range of individuals from teenagers to drug addicts stealing items such as bottles of wine.

Smith alleged that security provisions at the branch had been reduced, noting that there were no guards on duty at the start of the week the incident occurred.

Public and Political Reaction

The firing of the long-serving employee has generated public backlash and drawn political attention. Nigel Farage commented on the situation, stating that Smith’s dismissal demonstrates that Britain is broken.

Following the news of his dismissal, reports indicate that Smith received a job offer from a rival supermarket chain.

I’ve been there 17 years. I’ve seen it happen every hour of every day for the last five years… We’re not allowed to do anything.

Walker Smith, via The Guardian