A Sainsbury’s employee has been fired after intervening as a security guard fought to apprehend two shoplifters.

Jorge Costa, 57, worked at the supermarket in Hertford for two years and was described as a ‘dedicated’ worker as he managed the fruit and vegetable section.

However, his employment came to an abrupt end on July 1 when two suspected shoplifters tried to make off with goods.

He recalled hearing a woman ‘screaming for help’, which is when he turned and noticed the security worker struggling.

‘They were trying to hold both of them. I tried to stop them running away with the goods,’ he told the Daily Mail.

‘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.’

Costa confessed to then punching one of the shoplifters in ‘self-defence’.

The incident concluded with the shoplifters ditching their allegedly stolen items and leaving the store.

Costa said he was ‘treated like a hero’ after stepping in, with female colleagues in particular expressing their gratitude.

But two weeks later, he was suspended and then dismissed without notice on July 29, with Sainsbury’s arguing that he breached policy instructing shop floor staff not to intervene with shoplifters.

The company also said he committed gross misconduct, with bosses viewing the punch as a move that could’ve endangered other workers.

In a letter, Costa was informed that he had ‘put [himself] and other colleagues at risk’.

Bodycam footage of the altercation was also supplied by the store’s assistant manager, but the video did not capture the scream Costa said he heard, and therefore, it was found that he was not asked for help.

During misconduct proceedings, the video was shown to Costa, who claimed only the second half of the incident had been recorded, which is why no call for help to floor staff was heard.

Still, bosses ultimately ruled that the ex-employee chose to step in ‘even though [his] manager had told [him] to be careful’. It has not been stated that any manager warned Costa not to act.

Additionally, Sainsbury’s ruled one of the shoplifters could be heard accusing the security guard of ‘hurting’ them and that a second colleague had to ‘hold [Costa] back’, which he disputes.

Speaking in the aftermath, Costa said he is now struggling to find a new job and has been ‘depressed’.

‘I’m very disappointed,’ he added, about his reaction to being sacked. ‘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.’

Meanwhile, locals have been rallying around him, with one even launching a campaign to get him reinstated.

Beauty therapist Laura Cook, 58, started a petition, explaining that Costa ‘loved his job’ and would happily still go back.

‘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 called Costa’s firing ‘a great loss to our community’.

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.’ 

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