Sainsbury’s has fired a ‘beloved’ employee after he intervened to help a security guard restrain two shoplifters.
Jorge Coast57, had worked at the Hertford superstore for two years and had earned a legion of fans for his ‘dedicated’ and ‘exceptional’ service in managing the fruit and vegetable department.
But that all came to an end after he was fired in early July for stepping in to help a colleague while working at the branch, leaving him “depressed” and struggling to find a new job.
Costa told the Daily Mail he “heard a woman screaming for help” and turned around to see a security guard struggling to arrest two suspected shoplifters.
‘I saw the security guard fighting with two shoplifters. They tried to hold them both, I tried to stop them from running away with the goods.
‘I went to stop one of the shoplifters, I often asked if they could leave the goods on the floor and I let [them] to go.’
Mr Costa admits he then punched one of the shoplifters, but insists it was in self-defence.
The would-be shoplifters left behind the items they had taken and left the store.
Sainsbury’s says he breached their policy, which tells shop floor staff not to intervene to stop shoplifters, and found he had committed serious misconduct. It is understood bosses felt his punch escalated matters and therefore could have put other employees at risk.
Jorge Costa had worked at the Hertford superstore for two years and had earned a legion of fans for his ‘dedicated’ and ‘exceptional’ service before his dismissal
But the former employee said he was treated ‘like a hero’ after the incident, with the mainly female staff thanking him for his intervention.
Two weeks after his courageous act, Mr Costa was suspended and subsequently dismissed.
A letter informing Mr Costa of his dismissal said he had “put yourself and other colleagues at risk”.
“When everything was done, everyone came up to me and thanked me,” Costa said.
‘I am very disappointed [about being dismissed]I have been depressed for a long time. I think it’s wrong that I was treated this way. It was difficult for me to find a job.
‘I worked at Sainsbury’s for two years. I’ve never been late, never missed a day.’
His resignation letter shows that Sainsbury’s discovered Costa had not been asked for help by colleagues because no scream could be heard on bodycam footage, believed to have been from the store’s assistant manager.
But he told the Mail that this footage, which was shown to him during the misconduct proceedings, only captured the second half of the incident as she was not present when it started. Therefore, no call for help is heard from the staff on the work floor.
Bosses ruled he chose to involve himself in the incident “even though your manager told you to be careful.” It did not say that a manager had told Mr Costa not to act.
Sainsbury’s also ruled that the shoplifter could be heard telling the security guard before the altercation that they were ‘hurting them’, and that a second colleague ‘tried to detain him’. [Mr Costa] back’. Mr Costa disputes that any other colleague has tried this.
“Because you are putting yourself and other colleagues at risk, this is a violation of our procedures for keeping colleagues safe,” the letter added.
Mr Costa was dismissed without notice on July 29.
Regulars at the store have started a campaign to get the ‘friendly’ Mr Costa back to work.
Beauty therapist Laura Cook, 58, who started the campaign to support him, said: ‘Jorge loved his job. He would still go back and work there.
‘I can’t believe they would do this, it’s so unfair they have to look at the wider picture. He doesn’t deserve to be fired for this.
“We’re paying for all this food loss just to make it happen [shoplifters] walk away, it’s just right and wrong, common sense.’
She added: ‘This decision by Sainsbury’s Hertford is not only deeply unfair but also a great loss to our community. Many of us have experienced Jorge’s dedication to service and his genuine warmth.
Supporters of Mr Costa say he was working at the branch (pictured) when he heard a cry for help and security personnel rushed to help.
‘He exemplified the qualities of an excellent employee who not only made the workplace a better place, but also created a welcoming environment for everyone who came through Sainsbury’s.
“Jorge deserves to be recognized for his contributions and to continue to serve in a role where he excels and is valued.”
A former colleague of Mr Costa commented on the petition, saying: ‘Having worked with Jorge in the past, I can say that he is a very friendly and helpful person, who always has a few kind words.
‘What he did in the shop was a real act of courage and he should have been commended instead of suspended. A real shame.
‘I hope Sainsbury’s sets a precedent and doesn’t support shoplifting.’
Sainsbury’s, like most supermarkets, is telling its staff not to try to stop shoplifters, citing risks to themselves and others if the situation turns violent.
Supermarket staff wear body cameras that can help capture evidence of crimes, and plainclothes detectives in the stores are trained to track down and physically stop shoplifters.
A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: ‘Our colleagues face unacceptable levels of theft, aggression and violence in stores every day and we know how challenging these situations can be.
‘The safety of our colleagues and customers is our top priority and we continue to invest in safety measures and training for colleagues, in addition to working closely with the police to tackle offenses.
‘Our procedures are designed to prevent incidents from escalating and if they are not followed we have a responsibility to take appropriate action.’
Mr Costa is not the first store worker to face extraordinary sanctions for trying to stop criminals.
Manager Sean Egan, 46, was sacked by Morrisons in January after intervening when a prolific shoplifter tried to leave his store in Aldridge, West Midlands.
Mr Egan had worked for the supermarket since he was 17, but struggled to survive and feed his family.
He was fired for not following the company’s deterrent policy after the shoplifter became “aggressive” and spat on him.
And Waitrose shop assistant Walker Smith, who had worked at the chain for 17 years, was fired after tackling an Easter egg thief.
Mr Smith was sacked for days after confronting a ‘repeat offender’ who had filled a bag with eggs at the branch in Clapham Junction, south-west London.
The 54-year-old grabbed the thief’s bag, causing a tug-of-war and the bag of Lindt eggs worth £13 falling to the floor.
Waitrose has a strict policy that staff are not allowed to confront shoplifters and Mr Smith was fired a few days later.
The retailer said its workforce policy must be ‘strictly followed’, but the chain faced a furious response to the decision.
Shortly after Mr Smith’s resignation was made public, Iceland’s executive chairman, Lord Richard Walker, said he would “welcome” a job at the frozen food chain.
