Island’s shoplifting crimewave... Tesco shopping baskets!
Staff plead for return as 15 go missing every week
IT is an island known better for its strict religious observance than for its crimewaves.
But the Isle of Lewis is in the grip of a curious spate of thefts which has resulted in a supermarket losing nearly all of its shopping baskets.
Bosses at the Stornoway branch of Tesco said they are losing more than ten baskets every week due to customers walking out of the store with them.
Staff have now been forced to withdraw from use the limited number of baskets they have left until more are delivered.
In the meantime, the supermarket has declared an amnesty and is appealing to shoppers to return the baskets on a ‘no questions asked’ basis.
The reason for so many of the shopping baskets going missing remains a mystery, although some residents have suggested that some of them end up being used as plant pots.
An update on the shop’s Facebook page read: ‘We are very sorry to say that we are unable to provide our customers with shopping baskets due to them being taken from the store.
‘We are losing approximately 15 baskets a week due to theft. We have more baskets on order, but they take six weeks to arrive.
‘If anyone has a basket, can you please return them to the store. No questions asked on return. Again apologies for the
‘Sticking them in the boot and going’
inconvenience this has caused for our customers.’
The spate of thefts means that bosses at the store have had to order 100 replacement baskets, but they will not be delivered for another six weeks.
The puzzling crimewave has sparked debate among islanders as to why so many baskets are being taken from the store.
Maggie Shields wrote on Facebook: ‘I remember the ones with wheels were stolen in Inches store... seems they were “handy” for gardening.’
Sandra Fraser posted: ‘Have seen a few with flowers in them. So sad. Baskets or pots for flowers don’t cost that much.’
Others believe the baskets are being taken by people who would rather not part with 5p for a carrier bag.
Catherine Kennedy wrote: ‘I’ve seen people just sticking them in the boot and going instead of buying a bag, not a care in the world.’
In 2016, an Asda store in the cathedral city of Canterbury resorted to tagging its shopping baskets after hundreds were taken by shoppers dodging the 5p bag charge.
The Stornoway Tesco has also experienced problems with shopping trolleys being taken away and ending up in the town’s harbour.
Customers would wheel them 500 yards to the bus station near the ferry pier but then abandon the caddies.
Tesco staff carry out a patrol a couple of times every day to collect the discarded trolleys but some would end up being tipped into the water.
Islander Derek Mackenzie said: ‘I was wondering where the baskets were. It’s annoying not being able to get a basket, especially if you just need a few things like milk and bread, as the trolleys are no use. Baskets should not be allowed to leave the store.’
A spokesman for Tesco Stornoway said a ‘considerable’ number of baskets had been ‘stolen by customers’. He added: ‘We do not know what they are using them for. We have no idea.
‘We have not run out, but the numbers of baskets have got so low that there was not always one for every customer.
‘So we have withdrawn them and we are expecting a box of 50 soon and another box of 50 next month. No decision has yet been made about re-introducing them.’
The island is one of the last outposts where the Sabbath is reserved for rest and strict religious observance.
But recently, some residents ignored the fourth commandment in order to see the first film to be shown on a Sunday at the island’s only cinema.
The 183 people who managed to obtain tickets for the film were met with placard-waving protesters who believed the screening was a ‘breach of God’s law’.
The screening came amid increasing friction between islanders who want to preserve the strict Presbyterian traditions on Lewis and those who believe that those residents who are not religious should be allowed more freedom on Sundays.