Shocking video footage has captured the moment a suspected thief brazenly helped himself to food from an unattended Sainsbury's delivery van before cycling away from the scene. The incident, believed to have occurred on Saturday outside the Widow's Son pub on Devon Road in Bromley-by-Bow, London, shows a dark-clothed man casually unlocking the vehicle's rear door and filling two plastic bags with stolen goods.
Details of the Theft
The suspect, wearing a dark green coat and grey jeans, can be seen calmly stashing the bags while no Sainsbury's workers are present. After loading the stolen items, he pedals away on a bicycle, leaving the van vulnerable. A passerby recorded the entire theft, which has since sparked public outrage and concern over security measures.
Public Reaction and Supermarket Response
Reacting to the footage, one member of the public commented, "Don't know how these vans are not locked, seriously." Another added sarcastically, "At least he didn't have to use the self serve checkout." A third observer noted, "Stealing food is never okay, but I wonder what drove him to do it." A Sainsbury's spokesman confirmed awareness of the incident, stating, "We're aware of this incident which we have reported to the local Police." The Metropolitan Police have been contacted for further comment.
Broader Security Concerns at Sainsbury's
This theft comes amid a series of extreme security measures implemented by Sainsbury's to combat rising shoplifting and violence against staff. In the summer, the Daily Mail revealed that one outlet, Battersea Riverlight Local, had introduced cages with metal grating to protect cashiers, drawing criticism from shoppers. Tom Sharpe expressed dismay, saying, "I can't understand why this is being accepted. It certainly shouldn't be. Is there anyone arguing for law and order?" Another critic dubbed the measure an "indictment of British social decay."
Facial Recognition Technology Blunder
Last week, an innocent Sainsbury's customer, Warren Rajah, was mistakenly marched out of his local Elephant and Castle store after facial recognition software incorrectly identified him as an offender. The 42-year-old described the experience as "the most humiliating moment of my life," as staff escorted him out in front of his community. Sainsbury's has rolled out Facewatch technology in six London stores to address theft, but in this case, workers approached the wrong person. A spokesman apologized, stating, "This was not an issue with the facial recognition technology in use but a case of the wrong person being approached in store."
The combination of the delivery van theft and the facial recognition error highlights ongoing challenges for Sainsbury's in balancing security with customer experience, as crime rates in retail environments continue to rise.
