A suspected shoplifter was collared by six members of staff at a Poundland store on the same day the budget store chain said it was beefing up security.
The alleged thief was stopped in the cosmetics aisle of the shop.
A bag of groceries, including a bottle of orange squash nearby, was taken away.
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Burly security guards bundled him away and he tried to protest.
Other uniformed employees watched on as backup was called in.
The six guards and staff then managed to usher the man towards the back of the Poundland on the Luton Retail Park, Gipsy Lane, Luton, Beds.
Shocked shoppers watched on as the melee took place.
One worker simply said: “You are not allowed to do that.”
It happened yesterday (13 Jan) as Poundland announced it was increasing security at its 800 shops nationwide.
It follows the theft of £44million worth of stock in the last year.
Local, Ian Sutcliffe, said: “Good, let’s see other stores taking the same action.”
Angela Underwood fumed: “Honestly, ridiculous I feel so bad for shop workers.”
One Poundland worker said: “As someone who works in Poundland, the amount of patience you have to have to not get physical with shoplifters is unbelievable.”
One, called Nish, said: “Security guards doing their jobs love to see it.”
Haney added: “Serves him right stealing is not a free country.”
Another joked: “Your life is messed up if you got to nick stuff from the pound store.”
Last July, a Poundland store worker was hailed for standing up to a shoplifter.
It happened at the Westway Cross Shopping Park, Greenford, west London, as reported by Need To Know.
Poundland and Bedfordshire Police have been approached for comment.
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