Man dies after shoplifting encounter with security guard goes wrong

A man has died after he was allegedly tackled by a security guard who suspected him of shoplifting, police have said. 

The security guard, who was working for Sainsbury’s in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, then bailed.

The 30-year-old victim, who has not been named, suffered a “significant injury” when glass bottles he was carrying smashed as he was tackled by the 20-year-old security guard.

Wiltshire police officers were called to the Shires car park just after 3pm on Thursday after reports that a man was seriously injured following an altercation. 

The victim, of no fixed address, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said he was suspected of shoplifting in the town.

DCI Jeremy Carter said: “The man arrested is a security guard from a local store. He tackled the suspected shoplifter causing a number of glass bottles he was concealing to smash.

“This caused a significant injury to the man, who, despite the best efforts from paramedics, sadly died.”

Formal identification has yet to be carried out and a post-mortem examination was due to take place later on Friday. Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident to come forward. Officers said the security guard had been released on police bail until May.

Sainsbury’s confirmed that the guard, who was employed by Mitie, was working in its store near to where the homeless man was found. A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We will support the police investigation in any way we can.” - 

Guardian