Shop assistant had worked at grocer for 17 years but was let go after attempting to grab Easter eggs from thief
8 April 2026
Waitrose has been urged to rehire an employee who was sacked after trying to stop a shoplifter.
Walker Smith was dismissed from the supermarket branch in Clapham Junction where he had worked for 17 years after attempting to stop a repeat offender from stealing a bag of Lindt Easter eggs, The Guardian reported.
Smith tried to grab the bag from the shoplifter, but the bag broke during the struggle and the individual escaped. In the aftermath, he threw a broken chocolate bunny “out of frustration” and was dismissed two days later following a meeting with managers.
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Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, wrote to Waitrose saying the supermarket had acted “disgracefully” and should reinstate Smith immediately, apologise and give him a bonus for his “bravery and initiative”.
Philp said: “Staff safety must come first. But dismissing a long-serving employee in these circumstances sends entirely the wrong message. It penalises those who act, while offenders are left unchecked.”
A Waitrose spokesperson said its policies are designed to protect staff from the risks associated with confronting shoplifters.
The spokesperson added: “We’ve had incidents where our Partners have been hospitalised when...
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