Chaos erupted at a Primark store in Bristol when security guards clashed with a group of women in an alleged shoplifting incident. Footage shows a tug-of-war between two security staff in hi-vis jackets and several women, with a woman heard screaming, 'Let go of my bag.' The suspects eventually fled through the door at the Broadmead store.
The video ends with staff speaking to one woman left sitting on the floor. It is unclear if any items were stolen or if police were called. Shocked viewers commented online, with one calling the incident 'embarrassing' and another noting society has 'become accustomed' to such scenes.
A Primark spokesperson said: 'The safety of our customers and colleagues is really important to us. We are aware of the incident that took place in store and we are investigating.' The incident comes as Home Office figures show shoplifting in England and Wales reached a record high, with over 519,000 incidents reported in the year to September 2025.
Security expert Andrew Cockerill of Kingdom Security said organised crime groups are increasingly targeting shops, often stealing to order with lists of specific goods. He described the 'traumatising' impact on retail workers and noted that some thieves drive hundreds of miles a day to hit multiple stores.
