Blogger’s Note: Theft within Islam is permitted if it is related to relieving poverty. Indeed, in some Arab States, pristine vending machines are visible on the streets which dispense “free” fresh and good quality food to whoever needs it. Obviously, this attitude has not extended into Judeo-Christian countries – or their secular (capitalist) equivalents. Whilst we contemplate that irony – it might be worth mentioning that people aged 50-63 are not “Pensioners” simply on the grounds that they are not yet retired – or in receipt of Old Age (State) Pension. As various governments keep fiddling with the exact date a person can retire and receive State Pension – the age may now be higher than 64 (the age I remember). Of course, a person can retire at any age below 64 providing they possess an independent means of income – usually a private pension and/or immense savings. Those with neither cannot afford to retire before the prescribed date – although some types of UK government workers – being defined as “middle class” – used to be able to retire at 56 and receive their State Pension early (such wealthy people would never have to steal). What we are seeing here is a dramatic rise in “middle-aged” shoplifters that bleeds-over into the old-age group. It is probably the case that younger shop-workers are not sure how old an elder person is – so they assume they are “old age”. Whatever the case, poverty has increased immensely since Biden’s psychopathic support for Neo-Nazi Ukraine in 2022 onwards – and the UK continues to grant the Hitlerite regime billions in aid whilst allowing hundreds of thousands of modern-day Nazis to settle in the UK and be given free houses, cars, medical care, education, and money, etc – we earn it – they spend it. No wonder older people are being forced to steal – after-all – it is the life we must live under the free market of predatory capitalism. Capitalism is the enemy of us all – and fascism is capitalism in decline – why then are we propping it up? ACW (13.5.2025)
UK food shops have seen a “massive increase” in pensioners shoplifting over the past year, new data shows.
According to leading store security firm Kingdom Services Group, which works with hundreds of UK shops including supermarkets and convenience stores, there have been 20 to 30 reports of shoplifting per week concerning “people who just can’t afford to buy food”, The Guardian reported.
Kingdom Services Group director of service for retail John Nussbaum told PA Media: “We’ve seen a massive increase in pensioners shoplifting, putting a jar of coffee in their bag and one in the trolley, that sort of thing.”
He said that the higher cost of living “pushes people to something they’ve never done before”, adding that “we’re used to seeing the organised gangs, that’s the norm, but the types of people being caught now has changed.”
Nussbaum determined that around 5% of people caught shoplifting by the firm’s employees each week were aged over 50.
“Retailers don’t tend to involve the police when they’re dealing with pensioners. It’s not good publicity for a supermarket if it got out that a pensioner had been handed over to the police for shoplifting,” he added.
Recorded shoplifting offences rose by 20% in 2024 to 516,971, marking the highest figure since current police records began in 2003, according to the latest crime report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Meanwhile, crime cost retailers £4.2bn last year. That figure includes £2.2bn in theft losses and a further £1.8bn spent on crime prevention measures, such as CCTV, additional security personnel, anti-theft devices and body worn cameras.
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 