Sainsbury’s employee sacked for tackling thief hours after performing CPR on security guard

A former Sainsbury's employee has been sacked for escorting a notorious thief from his store, just hours after he performed CPR on a security guard.

Gary MacArthur, who had worked at the branch in West Wickham, south-east London, for 15 years, was dismissed after the incident in December 2025.

Mr MacArthur, who lives in Penge, said his "soul is crushed" after being dismissed, adding: "The job was my life, really... I don't have much."

On the day of the incident, the store’s security guard suffered a suspected stroke, meaning the 34-year-old had agreed to work an extra hour to help the all-female team feel safer.

He said, as he was finishing up his shift, he was told "come down, we’ve got an aggressive Champagne thief."

The shoplifter was a known repeat offender who regularly targeted the branch and had built up a reputation locally for pinching high-end bottles of Moët, Bollinger and Veuve Clicquot.

Mr MacArthur then physically escorted the offender from the store, uncovering a bag containing multiple bottles, believed to have been looted from a neighbouring store.

As he returned the goods to the stockroom, the shoplifter returned the store and began smashing bottles, throwing two in the direction of his manager and another colleague.

Mr MacArthur said a customer then blocked their path out of the store using a trolley, causing the shoplifter to become more aggressive. He then restrained the shoplifter with the customer until the police arrived.

However, three months later, Mr MacArthur was crushed to find out he had been dismissed for gross misconduct. He was unsuccessful in his appeal, which was heard at the start of April.

In August 2025, Mr MacArthur was given a written warning by the shop after challenging someone who attempted to steal goods from the store.

Despite this, he insisted that he "can’t let it go" when he sees someone breaking the law, adding he previously lost some teeth after being punched by a member of the public who had attempted to make off with several bottles.

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While Mr MacArthur has found a new job, which he will start soon, he spoke of his heartbreak at the decision.

He told GB News: "It was a very organised family. On a daily basis I would speak to maybe about 20 people. The job was very good for me.

"Nowadays it feels like you have less people to do more duties.

"I really want to thank the West Wickham community. I cannot thank them enough for sticking by me through this."

He continued: "I am pleased that my story has got people talking about this issue. In my eyes, it does seem like things are just getting worse.

"I want to be a stronger person. I don't think I did anything wrong but it just feels hopeless for every community out there.

"I am willing to learn. I'm not a bum, I've been working since I left college."

Usdaw, the union which represents retail workers, said it did not comment on individual cases.

General secretary, Joanne Thomas, said: "We know how difficult and frightening it can be for staff to see thieves come into their store and help themselves, often in a threatening and abusive manner, and we recognise that being told to stand back can be frustrating.

“We would not expect management to rush to a dismissal if there has been a breach of policy: there must be a recognition that these responses can be reactions to intensely stressful and sometimes dangerous situations.

"In those circumstances, Usdaw would seek for our members to be given additional support, mentoring and training by the company."

A spokesman from Sainsbury's told GB News: "We are seeing incidents of violence, aggression and theft happening in our stores on a daily basis, threatening the safety of colleagues and customers.

"We are responding by investing in extra security measures, ensuring it remains a Government priority and sharing intelligence with police forces around the country, not asking our colleagues to put their safety on the line by tackling offenders.

"That’s why our guidance to colleagues on responding to retail crime prioritises keeping everyone in our stores safe and is specifically designed to prevent incidents from escalating into a more dangerous situation."