A Waitrose employee of 17 years has been dismissed after intervening to stop a shoplifter stealing Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs. Walker Smith, 54, a shop assistant at the Clapham Junction branch in south London, said he grabbed the bag from a repeat offender after a customer alerted him. The thief snatched it back, leading to a brief struggle during which the bag snapped and eggs fell to the floor, with one breaking.
Smith admitted to picking up a piece and throwing it in frustration towards shopping trolleys, not at the thief. He was reprimanded by his manager and apologised, but the matter was escalated and he was later sacked. Smith said he had been told not to approach shoplifters but felt compelled after witnessing thefts repeatedly over years. He noted security had been reduced, with no guards on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Smith expressed regret, saying he “was punching myself” afterwards. He was called to a meeting with two store managers and made a final plea, telling them “Waitrose is like my family,” but was dismissed. He said he was led out the back door by the bins and felt demoralised. Smith has been diagnosed with anxiety, which he said his managers knew about.
The dismissal comes amid rising shoplifting offences in England and Wales, with 519,381 recorded in the year to September 2025, up 5% year-on-year. A Waitrose spokesperson stated that safety policies must be strictly followed to avoid potential danger, adding: “Nothing we sell is worth risking lives for.”
