A brazen thief's attempt to steal a huge haul from a Greggs bakery in Coventry ended in farce when their overstuffed bin bag split open, spilling goods onto the floor. The incident, which saw a total of 19 items stolen, was captured on video by a stunned customer.
The Bungled Heist Unfolds
The hooded individual entered the Greggs on Jubilee Crescent, Coventry, on Tuesday 7 January 2026. According to footage shared online, the crook methodically filled a large black bin bag with goods. They first grabbed five hot food items, before moving to the chilled section to swipe seven products, including sandwiches.
Not content, the thief then added four drinks to the bag before returning to the hot counter to take three more items. The sheer volume of stolen goods proved too much for the bag, which split apart, causing some of the contents to tumble to the shop floor. Undeterred, the shoplifter simply gathered what they could and walked out without making any attempt to pay.
Public Outrage and a Recurring Problem
Local residents reacted with a mixture of anger and disbelief on social media. One onlooker, Chris, succinctly summed up the clumsy crime, commenting: “The bag split, what a f*cking muppet.” Another, Ian Arnold, questioned the target, asking: “Why would anyone shoplift in Greggs?”
Peter Reid expressed wider frustrations about crime levels, fuming: “People should start to steal from the thieves. Give the property back. When’s it going to stop?” Meanwhile, Steve Smith lamented: “What has happened to this country?”
This was not an isolated incident at this particular location. The bakery was targeted in a similar raid just last month, when a man boldly walked out with ten boxes of food without paying. These events reflect a sharp nationwide rise in shoplifting over the past two years, with Greggs branches across the UK frequently being targeted.
A Growing National Issue
The brazen theft in Coventry highlights a persistent and growing problem for retailers. Shoplifting rates have surged, putting increased pressure on businesses and police forces. Greggs and West Midlands Police have been approached for comment regarding the latest incident.
As retailers grapple with this epidemic, the image of a splitting bin bag in a Coventry Greggs has become a symbol of both the audacity and the sheer pettiness of a crime wave affecting communities nationwide.
