A karate-trained Morrisons worker with 30 years of service was dismissed after she attempted to stop a teenage shoplifter, with managers claiming she jeopardised the company's reputation by breaching its 'deter-not-detain' policy.
Incident Details
Jane Pilborough, 62, was the sole staff member to intervene when a young thief tried to conceal 'chicken bites' in his pockets at the Newark store. The grandmother asserted she adhered to the supermarket's controversial policy and tried to persuade the individual to return and pay for the hot food. As he neared the exit, he 'made a sudden move', prompting Pilborough to grab his rucksack in what she described as a 'natural instinct'. She has no recollection of subsequent events due to being in 'fight or flight mode'. CCTV footage shows her falling after the shoplifter spun to shake her off before fleeing. She believed he was 18 or 19, but he was later found to be 14 or 15.
Aftermath and Disciplinary Action
Pilborough sustained minor injuries to her hand and knee and was escorted to the staff canteen. However, days later in August 2024, bosses initiated disciplinary proceedings instead of commending her bravery. By month's end, her three-decade career with Morrisons, previously unblemished, ended with dismissal for gross misconduct. The company accused her of engaging in a 'tug of war' by attempting to pull the youth back into the store.
Pilborough's Response
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Pilborough expressed resentment over her treatment, feeling discarded. She referenced the case of Sean Egan, another sacked Morrisons manager, noting a pattern of dismissals for staff who intervene. She stated, 'I still feel resentful of the way I was treated.' Pilborough, an acting team leader, was among 15 employees wearing headsets when the duty manager called for intervention after a group of youths were suspected of shoplifting. She claimed the manager said someone had concealed items and instructed staff to block doors, but security did not respond. Pilborough then walked backwards in front of the teenager, asking him to pay, but he refused despite his 'bulging' pockets. She called again for security via headset but received no response.
Training and Policy
Two weeks prior, Pilborough had watched a training video titled 'recognising theft and responding'. She stated, 'When we got closer to the doors, he made a sudden move... I went into automatic fight or flight, and your mind actually blocks it out.' Police were called but the investigation was dropped as CCTV 'doesn't really prove anything'. During the investigation, Pilborough felt her 'automatic response and karate training had gone against me'.
Termination Letter
A disciplinary letter seen by the Daily Mail stated, 'Your actions put yourself in danger, the lives of your fellow colleagues and other customers... This situation could have been avoided if you had chosen to follow the company procedure. Instead, you have put the company's reputation in jeopardy as this could have been filmed and shared on social media.' It also criticised her for ignoring policy and suggested she could face criminal charges for physically stopping a juvenile shoplifter.
Appeal and Policy Context
Pilborough appealed the decision, but it was upheld in October 2024. Bosses acknowledged her care for the workplace but noted her 'actions led to worsening a situation that could have de-escalated by simply letting the shoplifter leave'. Morrisons introduced its new shoplifting policy in 2023, which includes offering suspected thieves a basket rather than challenging them. A Reddit post from a claimed employee described using 'customer service' to deter theft, such as offering a basket when items are concealed. Disciplinary notes referenced Pilborough being 'past the point of offering a basket'. Morrisons clarified that staff do not offer a basket when a crime is in progress. A spokesperson stated, 'We recognise that difficult situations like this can cause real challenges... colleague safety is always the number one priority... we have clear procedures in place to de-escalate incidents... We cannot ignore the potential for violence... only the police are authorised to intervene.'
