Sainsbury’s has sacked a ‘beloved’ employee after he intervened to help a security guard restrain two shoplifters.

Jorge Costa, 57, had worked at the Hertford superstore for two years and had earned a legion of fans for his ‘dedicated’ and ‘exceptional’ service managing the fruit and vegetable section.

But that all came to an end after he was sacked for intervening to help a colleague while working at the branch early on July 1, leaving him ‘depressed’ and struggling to find a new job.

Mr Costa told the Daily Mail he heard ‘a woman screaming for help’, and turned to see a security guard struggling to apprehend two suspected shoplifters.

‘I saw the security guard fighting with two shoplifters. They were trying to hold both of them, I tried to stop them running away with the goods.

‘I went and held one of the shoplifters, I’ve asked many times for them to leave the goods on the floor and I’ll let [them] go.’

Mr Costa admits he then punched one of the shoplifters but insists this was in self-defence. 

The would-be shoplifters abandoned the items they had taken and left the store.

Sainsbury’s says he broke their policy which tells shop floor staff not to intervene to stop shoplifters, and found he had committed gross misconduct. It is understood bosses took the view that his punch escalated matters and therefore could have put other employees in danger.

Jorge Costa had worked at the Hertford superstore for two years and had earned a legion of fans for his ‘dedicated’ and ‘exceptional’ service before his dismissal

But the former employee said he was treated ‘like a hero’ after the incident, with the mainly female staff thanking him for intervening.

Two weeks after his courageous act, Mr Costa was suspended and subsequently dismissed.

A letter informing Mr Costa of his dismissal stated he had ‘put yourself and other colleagues at risk’.

‘After everything finished everyone came to me and thanked me,’ Mr Costa said.

‘I’m very disappointed [about being dismissed], I’ve been depressed for a long time. I think it’s wrong I was treated like this, it’s been hard for me to find a job.

‘I’d worked at Sainsbury’s for two years. I’d never been late, never missed one day.’

His dismissal letter shows Sainsbury’s found Mr Costa was not asked for help by colleagues because no scream could be heard on bodycam footage, understood to have been supplied by the store’s assistant manager.

But he told the Mail this footage, shown to him during misconduct proceedings, only captured the second half of the incident as she had not been present when it began, which is why no appeal for help from shop floor staff is heard. 

Bosses ruled he chose to involve himself in the incident ‘even though your manager had told you to be careful’. It did not state any manager told Mr Costa not to act.

Sainsbury’s also ruled the shoplifter could be heard before the altercation telling the guard they were ‘hurting’ them, and that a second colleague ‘tried holding [Mr Costa] back’. Mr Costa disputes any other colleague attempted this.

‘Due to the fact that you put yourself and other colleagues at risk, this is a breach of our keeping colleagues safe procedures,’ the letter added.

Mr Costa was dismissed without notice on July 29. 

Regulars at the store have launched a campaign to get ‘friendly’ Mr Costa reinstated.

Beauty therapist Laura Cook, 58, who started the campaign to support him, said: ‘Jorge loved his job. He would still go back and work there.

‘I can’t believe they would do this, it’s so unjust, they should look at the wider picture. He does not deserve to be fired for this.

‘We’re paying for all this loss of food just to let [shoplifters] walk out, it’s just right and wrong, common sense.’

She added: ‘This decision by Sainsbury’s Hertford is not only profoundly unfair but also a great loss to our community. Many of us have experienced Jorge’s commitment to service and his genuine warmth. 

Supporters of Mr Costa say he was working at the branch (pictured) when he heard a cry for help, and rushed to the aid of security personnel

‘He exemplified the qualities of an outstanding employee who not only made the workplace better but also created a welcoming environment for everyone who walked through Sainsbury’s doors.

‘Jorge deserves to be recognised for his contributions and to continue to serve in a role where he excels and is appreciated.’

A former colleague of Mr Costa commented on the petition and said: ‘Having worked with Jorge in the past I can say that he is a very friendly and helpful person, who always has a few kind words. 

‘What he did at the shop was a real act of bravery and he should have been praised instead of suspending. A real shame. 

‘I hope Sainsbury’s will set a precedent and will not support in store theft.’

Sainsbury’s, like most supermarkets, tells its staff not to try and stop shoplifters, citing risks to themselves and others if situations become violent.

The supermarket’s staff wear bodycams which can help capture evidence of crime, and plain-clothes in-store detectives who are trained to spot and physically stop shoplifters.

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: ‘Our colleagues face unacceptable levels of theft, aggression and violence in stores every day and we know how challenging these situations can be. 

‘The safety of our colleagues and customers is our highest priority and we continue to invest in security measures and training for colleagues, alongside working in close partnership with the police to tackle offending. 

‘Our procedures are designed to prevent incidents escalating and where they are not followed we have a responsibility to take appropriate action.’ 

Mr Costa is not the first shop worker to face extraordinary sanctions for trying to stop criminals in their tracks.

Manager Sean Egan, 46, was dismissed by Morrisons in January after intervening when a prolific shoplifter tried to leave his store in Aldridge, West Midlands.

Mr Egan had worked for the supermarket since the age of 17 but was left struggling to survive and feed his family.

He was sacked for not following the company’s deter-and-not-detain policy after the shoplifter became ‘aggressive’ and spat on him.

And Waitrose shop assistant Walker Smith, who had been employed by the chain for 17 years, was sacked after tackling an Easter egg thief.

Mr Smith was fired days after confronting a ‘repeat offender’ who had filled a bag with eggs at the branch in Clapham Junction, south-west London.

The 54-year-old grabbed the bag from the thief, sparking a tug-of-war and the £13 bag of Lindt eggs to spill on to the floor.

Waitrose has a strict policy that staff should not confront shoplifters and Mr Smith was sacked a few days later.

The retailer said its staff policies must be ‘strictly followed’ – but the chain faced a furious backlash over the decision. 

Soon after Mr Smith’s sacking was made public, executive chairman of Iceland, Lord Richard Walker, said he would be ‘welcome’ to a job at the frozen food chain.