Apparently some people nick meat from supermarkets. They must be quite skilled if they can conceal a leg of lamb. There is so much security at supermarkets, digital and a physical guard, I don't know how they do it.
The Melbourne suburb of St Albans has an unofficial weekend market, where you can buy some very nice cuts of meat at cheap prices, clearly stolen meat. I read a newspaper article about the market and St Albans itself, once a train terminus before the line was extended. It sounded like an interesting suburb and I had no knowledge of the area. I must visit, so I did.
It wasn't a market day but there was not any shortage of places to eat all sorts of foods from around the world. I think I had coffee and a meat pie.
My Hair Dresser friend was teaching in St Albans and when I caught the train back to town, she walked past my carriage at Melbourne Spencer Street, clearly having just left the same train to catch a route 12 tram home. I was going on to Melbourne Flinders Street.
Anyway, I rather liked St Albans. Here are a few photos taken in public spaces near the station.
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It does look like a vibrant and interesting area. Stolen meat presumably has to be hidden beneath your clothing. Eeeeuw. At the thought.
ReplyDeleteEC, it seems from comments, it is rather more brazen than that.
DeleteThere’s no concealing meat Andrew. Sister works at a Woolies and said they load up the trolley and brazenly walk out with it, challenging any staff member to “try me and see how it ends”. Staff are told not to interfere for their own safety. Marie, Cheltenham
ReplyDeleteThat's wise to stand back Marie, but very disappointing. I have seen store detectives chase a shoplifter once, and he got away. The supermarkets around here have guards but I'm not sure how effective they are.
DeleteYou have to be desperate or brazen to steal meat.
ReplyDeleteJB, I doubt desperation is much of a factor. There are so many places where people can get decent food supplied by charities. Brazen, yes.
DeleteHere, I have heard of people having special pants made with deep pockets, so that they can drop meat inside their pants. As EC said, "Ewwwwwww...."
ReplyDeleteDebby, yes, I have heard of that. Uncomfortable, to say the least.
DeleteSt Albans looks very colourful, unlike its UK namesake I think.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would buy meat from a dubious source. My tummy is delicate enough as it is.
JayCee, it used to have a bit of a reputation. I am not sure about now. It seemed ok to me, with a lot of immigrants living nearby.
DeleteI hope you pronounce it correctly "S'nAlbans"
ReplyDeleteMerlot, I always insert the 't' Snt Albans, as I do with St Kilda. A lot of younger people are now saying the full Saint. I dislike it muchly.
DeleteIt looks a colourful and interesting place. Shoplifting is a huge problem here with people walking out with trolleys full of stuff.
ReplyDeleteFun60, clearly it is a big problem. Trolleys that won't go past the car park borders would help.
DeleteNot exactly a crime scene, but unless the children were starving, why would anyone do it?
ReplyDeleteWhy indeed Hels, and we know no one needs to starve in this country.
DeleteWhy? So they pay nothing and then sell the meat to get money for whatever nefarious purposes.
DeleteThe murals are looking fabulous. With regard to stealing of food from supermarkets, there is a company policy for staff members not to confront robbers or thieves
ReplyDeleteRoentare, that is wise.
DeleteAnd I thought the Melbourne meat market was at The Peel.
ReplyDeleteBoom boom. It's been a long time since I've been there.
DeleteLike the piano. It's kind of a throwback to the hippy 1960s.
ReplyDeleteKirk, a few keys made a vague noise but it was generally wrecked.
DeleteSome people take a trolley load of meat and don't pay for it from some of our supermarkets, they just walk out the door as the staff can't stop them, but they call the police - inside the supermarket the staff can't touch them until the police arrive, or the staff can ask them to put the meat back, some do as their conscious gets the better of them, and of course there are those who try to sneak out pieces of meat, same thing applies to them too. This is very true as told to me by a staff member recently.
ReplyDeleteSt. Albans looks good with your photos, Andrew.
Margaret, it is hard to believe that trolley loads go out in your city. I can understand small packets being smuggled out. Larceny in Lonnie.
ReplyDeleteI love that painted piano! I know several methods of concealment, but I won't say how here and be assured I never steal anything myself. I have seen some people take a trolley full of stuff through the self checkouts without scanning and paying.
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea to not reveal River. My readers are all thieves. I am wondering why digital security is not working as I thought it might.
DeleteSuch great quality of light!
ReplyDelete"No knowledge of the area. I must visit, so I did." Freedom! I'm a sort of a carer at this point of my 84 and 1/2-year-old partner. I get out with a friend from time to time but not for long and not far and I don't exploring. Seems like a dream. Used to do a lot of it on my motorcycles. But I ran around a lot. I'm content at home and I love this beautiful apartment in the high-rise.... Aloha friend. Thanks for the words on the tree I showed
Cloudia, Ray was happy to go out for an hour or two in the morning but was always glad to get home. I am starting to understand that. But then exploring still excites me, getting out and about. I will have plenty of time for old age in the near future.
DeleteColorful spot.
ReplyDeleteIt is rather, Bob.
DeleteI wonder if there's back door theft, too. Collusion with employees. Sounds as if it's easier than that if employees are instructed not to confront for fear of violence.
ReplyDeleteI like to get out a while and I'm very happy to come home.
Boud, I expect there would be some collusion at times, but I expect that is watched for very carefully.
DeleteI dated a guy once who was an expert at stealing from supermarkets. Huge pockets inside his overcoat. Also he would take a full cart left momentarily by another shopper and cash it out to avoid the business of shelf hunting. We didn't last too long but he was an excellent bridge player and I missed that.
ReplyDeleteI love painted old pianos.
XO
WWW
WWW, a thief and a bridge player. I don't know what to say. The bad boy you found attractive?
DeleteAll that sun looks so inviting! Thinking of stolen meat reminds me of Divine shoving the steak up her skirt in "Pink Flamingoes."
ReplyDeleteSteve, I've forgotten that scene.
DeleteSt.Alban's looks inviting!
ReplyDeleteJackie, while it is a low socio-economic area, the council has done well to make the public spaces decent.
DeleteGreat photos! Some local retailers now have locked plexiglass over certain shelves while our main grocery store often announces a cryptic security call. I can't help wondering what codes and section numbers indicate but probably am best not being witness. ~sigh~ Best wishes!
ReplyDeleteSome of ours too have things locked away in cases. It really deters me from buying. I don't want to have to ask the case to be opened. Yes, I hear those codes too. I know there is one for a spillage.
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