Moment 'Co-op superwoman' shop worker steps in to stop 'shoplifter' in his tracks as he sprints from shop

12 September 2024, 12:28

The 'Co-op superwoman' tackled the would-be shoplifter
The 'Co-op superwoman' tackled the would-be shoplifter. Picture: Instagram

By Kit Heren

This is the moment a brave shop worker steps in to confront a suspected thief running out of the store with goods under his arm.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The female staff member has been dubbed "the Co-op superwoman" for her efforts in a Stockport branch of the supermarket chain.

She was caught on camera pinning the apparent shoplifter up against a wall as he tried to run away with some meat and detergent.

The suspected thief was first seen running through the Edgeley Co-op as three staff members gave chase.

The baseball-cap wearing man also managed to evade a customer who tried to trip him up with an outstretched foot.

Read more: Gone in 60 seconds: Stores targeted by thieves nearly ‘once every minute’ as shoplifting hits record high

Read more: 'We have to accept police aren't interested': M&S boss says company spends 'a lot of money' to stop shoplifting itself

Warning: The below video contains swearing

But the female shop assistant proved an effective last line of defence as she ran towards him, grabbed him by the collar and shoved him back against the wall.

She could be heard shouting at him: "Do you want me again!? Do you want me again!", as she ordered him to put down the stolen items.

Three of her colleagues then came and retrieved the goods from the man.

The video was shared on social media, with the brave woman getting praise for her efforts.

One person said: "That’s one amazing lady." Another added: "Give that lady a pay rise now."

A third said: "Wow, that woman is a SUPERWOMAN! The way she grabbed him, you go girl!"

Caller Mike pinpoints 2012 as the moment there was 'no point phoning in a shoplifting offence'

Shoplifting reached record levels in 2023, with figures released in April showing that offences last year increased by 37% (to 430,104 offences) compared with the previous 12 months (315,040 offences).

That works out as roughly 1,000 shops being targeted by thieves everyday - or nearly one shop every minute.

It is the highest figure since current police recording practices began for the year ending March 2003.

Before the General Election Keir Starmer vowed to crack down on the "epidemic" of shoplifting.

M&S Chairman on shop theft

He said: "Nobody in Britain should be in any doubt about the scale of the crime wave on our high streets at the moment. The epidemic levels of shoplifting and the persistent plague of antisocial behaviour.

"Some people call this type of crime ‘petty’. But they don’t work in your shop. They don’t walk in your shoes. Don’t see the damage this does to your community."

Meanwhile the chairman of M&S told LBC's Nick Ferrari that police "are not interested" in shoplifting.

"Whether we like it or not, that's the way it's gone," Archie Norman said in an interview in May.

Last October, police chiefs announced a partnership scheme with big retailers including the Co-op to tackle shoplifting. Other shops participating include John Lewis, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Next.

Under the Pegasus scheme, these retailers agreed to pay £800,000 over two years to fund police efforts to treat shoplifting like organised crime.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Italian F1 Grand Prix - Previews

Nightclub bouncer behind £12m plot to reveal Formula One star Michael Schumacher's health secrets jailed

Josef Fritzl

Incest monster Josef Fritzl could walk free from prison next year - and expects 'cheering crowds' to greet him

Ofsted's Chief Inspector Sir Martyn Oliver supports an extension to term times

'Time to think about school holidays': Ofsted's Chief Inspector supports extending term times

Exclusive
Angela Rayner insisted that British support for Ukraine was 'unwavering'

Rayner insists UK support for Ukraine 'unwavering' despite Trump's plan for 'immediate' peace talks with Putin

Prince William, President of BAFTA, operates a film camera as he visits the London Screen Academy in London, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool)

William tries his hand at being a cameraman on visit to London film academy

President Donald J. Trump participates in a bilateral meeting with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin during the G20 Japan Summit Friday, June 28, 2019, in Osaka, Japan.

Trump and Putin to 'start negotiations immediately' over ending war in Ukraine - with US President to visit Moscow

Street scene in Peckham, London, with red bus

Bus driver, 76, found guilty of killing passenger who was run over while attempting to board vehicle

Norward Road, Lambeth, the proposed LTN.

Council staff given 'wellbeing day' after attending 'stormy' neighbourhood meeting

United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, left, shakes hands with Britain's Defense Secretary John Healey prior to a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a NATO defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Wednesday, Feb.

Ukraine's NATO membership plans 'unrealistic' says US - as defence secretary claims US troops won't be peacekeepers

Jaysley Beck, 19, was found dead at Larkhill Camp in Wiltshire

Officer accused of pinning down and trying to kiss soldier, 19, had been 'waiting for moment for them to be alone'

A public inquiry into the Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks'

Public inquiry into Nottingham attacks will begin 'within weeks', PM tells victims' families

Paul Allen.

Cagefighter guilty of Britain's largest cash robbery shot in neck in his kitchen in murder plot

Lucy Harrison

British woman, 23, dies after being shot dead at dad's US house as 'utterly heartbroken' family pays tribute

Ragley Hall, Warwickshire.

Earl sues parents over 'trauma' for not being gifted £85 million Warwickshire estate

d

Outrage as auction house flogs Nazi memorabilia including Göring's dinner plate, Luftwaffe dagger and Swastika bunting

An asteroid could hit earth in 2036.

NASA makes 'emergency' decision over asteroid the size of Big Ben that could strike Earth