LAST week I came across a disturbing video on Facebook showing a man being pinned to the ground by security guards. Tragically, he later died.

Yves Sakila, originally from the Congo, had lived in Ireland for 22 years. His untimely death is under investigation and post-mortem examinations are underway.

He allegedly stole a bottle of perfume from a shop on Henry Street in Dublin and was pursued by security.

During the incident, an elderly man named Jimmy was knocked down and broke his hip.

While the video of Mr Sakila being pinned down appeared heavy-handed, there’s no evidence or suggestion that this caused his death.

This was a sad chain of events for Yves, Jimmy and their friends and family, all allegedly for the sake of a bottle of perfume.

Shoplifting is the scourge of retailers. While at school and college, I worked part-time in Dunnes Stores, sometimes stacking shelves and sometimes in the off-licence, and a few years in the butchery department making sausages and vegetable rolls. That’s aside.

Shoplifting was prolific – some did it to order, others perhaps out of necessity, some were crooks who turned it into an art form, and the odd one did it for the recreational fun of being chased.

I remember once my manager told me to chase a shoplifter who ran straight into the cathedral across the street. My manager wasn’t great on the principle of sanctuary and got me to run in and recover the goods.

I understand the frustration of retailers, particularly small ones. They work........

© The Irish News