Customers nibble on donuts, pies, pizzas and even bread from warm storefronts, then dump the leftovers without paying for them
Customers nibble on donuts, pies, pizzas and even bread from warm storefronts, then dump the leftovers without paying for them. Most often, such raids can be seen in large stores that offer baked goods at self-service stands. The beneficiaries are people of different ages and social status, such as children, students, pensioners and even those of middle age, but apparently unemployed and homeless, reports “Telegraf”.
Employees say there are some who get two pizzas and by the time they get to the checkout, there’s only one left because they ate the other while shopping. Accordingly, they pay only one breakfast. There are also those who try them at the counter and if they don’t like it, they return it or throw the rest on the shelves.
Chips, soft drinks, snacks, pre-packaged desserts, and even fruits, whose peels are dumped wherever they choose, are the object of such raids. There is usually video surveillance in the stores, but there are many customers and they manage to escape unnoticed after breakfast on the Avanta, employees say.
In addition to snacking, there are also those who open a packet of more expensive nuts such as cashews, almonds or hazelnuts and scoop up without paying for the package. Others steal a few candies from a box and then leave the packaging on the stand.
Cases
One such case was told by a family who bought candy from a store as a gift for their loved ones, but when they took out the purchases, they found that several candies were missing from the package.
An employee of another chain said that it often happens that while arranging the bread counter, she comes across an open package with several slices missing. “Apparently, they come in, sneak around so no one sees them, open, eat and leave,” the store’s staff said. In another store in Sofia, the cashiers spotted a pensioner who tried to leave with some chocolates and sausages without paying for them. It regularly happens that they try to steal small chocolate desserts, waffles and from the candies that are sold in bulk, another grocery store said.
Cosmetics
Customers of a well-known chain said that they came across empty boxes of cosmetic products. “I wanted to buy waxing strips that come in a box. I opened one package before taking it to checkout because it felt too light. I found out that the strips inside are missing,” said Marinela Pavlova from Sofia.
In another store, a lady was surprised that when she went to pay, the cashier checked the contents of a package of toothpaste. When the client asked why he did it, they explained to her that there are unscrupulous users who exchange toothpaste for 8.50 BGN in a 2.50 BGN box.
Devices
Appliance parts are often opened and stolen. Such is the example of a wood-cutting saw, which was sold in a set with knives that are placed on the tool. In this case, it is about a customer who has decided to get the machine, decides to check what is included in the set at the stand, and finds out that the cutting tools in question are missing. When checking the other packages, the person finds a box with all the parts.
Household appliances are also abused. For example, there are customers who have a blender, but one of their attachments has broken. Instead of buying the whole set, they collect from the stand without paying for the part in question. A set of car chargers with a cable, and the customer took only the cable, but left the device that plugs into the car cigarette lighter.
Theft of goods at self-service checkouts has become a trend. “Often there are people who took 3 things and marked two, and the most ‘forget’ to mark their bags,” admitted a sales manager of a large chain. Among the objects of raids are also expensive products such as whiskey and chocolate.
Grocers make walls of shame with pictures of thieves
A wall of shame with pictures of customers shopping without paying is already in place in some of the small shops. Their faces are caught and filmed with cameras, then printed and hung on the window display. Above their photos is usually a description of what the camera caught them taking without paying for it. For example, above a photo of a woman, it is written that she has a can of mackerel in her bosom. On another is a young man who left the store with desserts in his pocket, again without paying.
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