Shoplifters stealing £4000 of goods from supermarkets every week - 'it's out of control'

A security guard has warned about "out of control" shoplifting at supermarkets - with £2,000 of goods being stolen over a weekend from a single store. Kane Manning, 28, a security guard for three years, says staff should be doing more to stop the crimes than union bosses recommend. The Security Industry Federation (SIF) told its members to watch, report, and be expert witnesses for police, but not to intervene against the theft . But although Kane from Brighton agrees staff should avoid putting themselves in harm's way, he feels very strongly that it is their job to challenge the behaviour. Kane said at the store where he works, as much as £2,000 of goods are taken over a weekend , and up to £400 on weekdays - with meat and baby formula among the popular items to take. He receives up to three death threats a week, and violent verbal abuse up to 20 times a day, and feels concerned for his safety despite being 5ft 11ins and a 15st amateur boxer. He said: "Shoplifting is totally out of control and getting worse and worse. And shoplifters have become much more aggressive over the years I've been working in security. "They get very angry and call you names even if you're just patrolling and not even looking at them. I totally disagree with the advice not to intervene, it's our job to challenge. "If we don't challenge the behaviour they'll just keep coming back for more because they're getting away with it. Security staff need to keep calm and de-escalate situations, and ask people politely to pay for the goods they want. "We shouldn't be grabbing stuff from people, or blocking the exits, or anything that will aggravate a situation - that's when we get hurt - but we definitely need to challenge shoplifters." Kane says he keeps a cool manner, tone of voice, and a relaxed stance, but says 'excuse me sir/madam, but I can see you haven't paid for that'. He asks them to pay and says they either do pay, or drop the goods and leave. Once, six months ago, he blocked an exit and saw the thief reach for a knife from his pocket, so let him take the stuff and go. "I learned my lesson not to block that day," he said. "It's hard not to interfere like that, but it's definitely not worth the risk." Kane got a death threat over £5 worth of sandwiches a few weeks ago. He said: "I asked him to pay for them and he started shouting that he was going to wait for my shift to finish and kill me. He was very abusive. But he did actually leave." Kane said when he gently intervenes, 80 per cent of shoplifters don't come back to the store. Shoplifters are mostly taking meat, alcohol, or baby formula, Kane said. Electrical goods like toothbrushes are another high-theft item, with shoplifters just running once they have set off the alarms. Kane sees a whole spectrum of culprits, aged from 15 to late 60s. Shoplifters are brazen, he said, just filling bags and running, then coming back for more. Others come in pairs and one steals while the other acts as a decoy by distracting staff. Mums drop packets of formula into the bottom of the pushchair as they shop, he said. Kane who first shared his story via Talk to the Press, said: "I'm always concerned for my safety when I finish work. "I'm always looking over my shoulder. Security staff should all wear body cameras, and, where you can, a stab vest in my opinion. "We need more police. The government need to invest more money in policing so that police can patrol more and deal with shoplifting. It needs to be sorted before more security staff get killed or badly hurt."