Overwhelming support for security guard filmed restraining alleged female shoplifter
Penzance England Dec 4 2017
Hundreds of people have come out in support of a supermarket security guard who was filmed restraining a young woman after she was allegedly caught shoplifting.
The incident unfolded outside the Tesco superstore in Penzance on Thursday evening (November 30).
Local resident Nick Collins was shopping at Tesco when he captured the incident on his mobile phone.
In the video, a security guard employed by Tesco can be seen outside the shop entrance restraining a woman in her late 20s, who allegedly stole from the store.
The guard then picks up the woman and takes her into the store as she kicks and screams, to detain her until the police arrive at the scene.
Police confirmed that the woman was arrested for shoplifting and assault.
Mr Collins uploaded the video to Facebook later that evening in a public post, suggesting that a “large grown man” shouldn’t have been so physical with the woman.
“It seemed excessive from a completely neutral point of view. It was quite traumatic,” he said.
But the security guard received an overwhelming level of support on Cornwall Live’s Facebook page, with hundreds of people saying he did the right thing.
Chantelle Natalie Coe said the security guard “was doing his job” and not manhandling her, as some suggested.
Dean Kent added: “Maybe he should have just let her walk out of the shop without paying for whatever she decided took her fancy and let the rest of us law abiding people who work and pay for our goods pick up the tab.
“Sadly the outcome will probably be her getting a light slap on the wrist and him losing his job, his mortgage etc.”
Patricia Hayward said: “The security guard was only doing his job, if she had gone quietly back into the store it would not have happened.”
Nicola Mortimer said: “If the public new what Tesco staff have to deal with on occasions you would understand this.”
These are just some of the hundreds and hundreds of comments posted on Cornwall Live’s Facebook page, supporting the security guard’s actions. Only a very small minority of people felt the Tesco employee went too far.
One of them, Paul Smitham, said the security guard put himself in a “very precarious position”.
Mr Smitham said: “Simply no need to pick her up and drag her kicking and screaming through the store. He may have been injured, she may have been injured, some bystander may have been injured by her flailing about. Quite simple, if he was well trained he would know this to be the case.
“Restrain, hold and wait for assistance from the police, that is his duty and that would have saved him from what is in my opinion a very embarrassing display from a ‘professional’.”
The Tesco Penzance store manager declined to comment on the incident when contacted by Cornwall Live.
A spokesperson for Tesco told Cornwall Live that the company is “aware” of the incident, adding: “We are assisting police with this matter.”
