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'Smug' shoplifter goads customers as he strolls out of store with bag of stolen booze

A stunned Sainsbury's customer filmed a brazen shoplifter as he casually strolled out of a supermarket with a bag of stolen booze and gave a thumbs-up to the camera

[Brazen Wilkes gave a thumbs up as he strolled out the store]

Brazen Wilkes gave a thumbs up as he strolled out the store(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

A "smug" shoplifter gave a stunned customer the thumbs-up as he strolled out of a store with a stash of stolen booze. But brazen Wayne Wilkes, 44, wasn't smiling when he was nabbed by cops and jailed for a string of thefts a fortnight later.

Astonishing footage of him strolling cockily from a Sainsbury's in Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, with his bag of bevvies was filmed by stunned customer Sam Rockwell, 45.

He said he assumed it was a shoplifter so began filming and ran towards the store's exit to catch the culprit on camera, where he caught Wilkes in jeans and a designer jacket swaggering towards him with a bag over his shoulder.

[Wilkes walked out of the store unchallenged]

Wilkes walked out of the store unchallenged(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

The dad-of-two said: "I heard a strange commotion and it sounded like glass, then some shouting which is unusual because it's a quiet town. It twigged someone was stealing so I just started running to the front of the store and got the video camera ready.

"I thought to jump over and tackle him but I thought I should film him because that's all that was needed. It's remarkable how he does a thumbs-up to me as he goes past. It shows how brazen and smug he is.

"I've got sympathy that he'd been brought up to think this is okay but I've got no sympathy for his actions. People feel they can just [steal from] a place and walk out and I feel it's a real breakdown in society. It's disappointing.

[Wilkes was later jailed]

Wilkes was later jailed(Image: Kennedy News and Media)

Cops said Wilkes nicked alcohol, electronics, cosmetics, fresh food and meat from outlets in Galashiels and Hawick between August and October. He pled guilty at Selkirk Sheriff Court to six shoplifting charges and ten bail breaches.

The serial shoplifter was jailed for 12 months and banned from stores for five years. PC Lightfoot of Hawick Police Station said: "There is no justification for retail crime and the theft of goods from stores is certainly not victimless.

"Where offending occurs, we will always work with our partners to ensure offenders are identified and brought before the courts for their crimes."

[He targetted a Sainsbury's store]

He targetted a Sainsbury's store(Image: Getty Images)

A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "The safety of our colleagues and customers is our highest priority and we are working closely with the police, the local council and other retailers on this issue."

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