Waitrose worker sacked from 17-year job after stopping thief stealing Easter eggs

Waitrose worker sacked from 17-year job after stopping thief stealing Easter eggsA Waitrose employee was sacked from his role at a Clapham Junction store after intervening when a shoplifter tried to steal some Easter eggs, before throwing a piece of chocolate in frustrationCommentsNewsMatt Atherton News Editor16:07, 05 Apr 2026View 3 ImagesWalker Smith was sacked from his role at Waitrose after confronting a shoplifter, he said(Image: Facebook)A Waitrose worker has been fired after trying to stop a shoplifter from stealing a bunch of luxury Easter eggs.‌Walker Smith, 54, was a Waitrose employee for 17 years before being sacked. He revealed he was "crying inside" when bosses showed him the exit door, because the retailer was like his family.‌Mr Smith was a shop assistant at a Waitrose branch in Clapham Junction, south London. He was carrying out his usual role when a shopper told him that someone had filled up a bag with eggs.‌The usual protocol is to avoid approaching shoplifters, and to report it to a higher up. But after seeing repeated thefts over the years, Mr Smith sprang into action, he said.View 3 ImagesWalker had been working at Waitrose for 17 years before being sackedREAD MORE: Prince William's four-word whisper to Charlotte and Louis uncovered by lip readerREAD MORE: Easter egg hunt HORROR as mum, baby and teen crushed to death by falling treeHe confronted the thief and snatched their bag. There was reportedly a brief struggle, before the bag ripped and several Lindt Gold Bunny Easter eggs fell onto the floor. The shoplifter made a run for the exit, but Mr Smith picked up a piece of broken Easter egg and "threw it out of frustration" toward some trollies - and not toward the thief - he said.‌He was reprimanded by his boss at the time, but a few weeks later, he was hauled into a meeting with store managers. Mr Smith said he made a final plea for forgiveness, but was ultimately told he was being sacked.He told the Guardian: "I...