Two women have sparked outrage after appearing to help themselves to armloads of food from a Greggs store, despite being filmed. Footage capturing the incident has attracted more than 1.4 million views on X (formerly Twitter), with some viewers expressing anger at what they described as an apparent blatant disregard for the law.
In the video, the two individuals can be seen inside the bakery chain gathering a large quantity of food before leaving the store without paying. They take a variety of products, including several sandwiches and packets of crisps. One of the women is also seen taking what appears to be three Capri-Sun drinks before making her way out of the shop.
Online reaction to the incident
Toward the end of the video, the other woman seemingly says "I don't care" as she takes two sandwiches before heading outside. The footage has prompted a furious reaction online. One X user wrote: "Get yourself a job and pay like everyone else! Lawless society with entitled people, we are becoming the laughing stock of the world." Another branded the women "garbage people".
Retailers respond to rising shoplifting
The video comes amid growing concern over shoplifting across Britain's high streets, with retailers increasingly introducing measures designed to protect staff and stock. Greggs announced earlier this year that it is taking steps to tackle theft at some of its stores, including removing self-service display cabinets at a number of locations experiencing particularly high levels of antisocial behaviour.
At those branches, products have instead been kept behind theft-resistant counters, with staff handing items to customers. Greggs said in a statement in April: "This is one of a number of initiatives we are trialling across a very small number of shops which are exposed to higher levels of antisocial behaviour."
New technology to tackle theft
Greggs, alongside other retail giants Tesco, Boots, and Marks and Spencer, have now started using new technology which can submit evidence to officers within minutes. After a trial in six London boroughs, the Metropolitan Police Service expanded the platform to eight more boroughs. The Express has contacted Greggs for comment.
