A cheeky thief has been caught on camera casually pocketing sausages and milkshakes from a family-run corner shop in Livingston, leaving owners stunned and the clip going viral across Scotland.
The bold theft happened in broad daylight on Sunday February 8 around 2pm at Fair Price Food Store in Craigshill, and locals are now sharing the footage far and wide.
Thief Stuffs Sausages Down Trousers in 30-Second Raid
CCTV shows the man strolling into the store like any normal customer. He spends a few moments browsing the fridge before grabbing two nourishment shakes and a pack of sausages.
Without breaking stride, he slips the items into his pockets and jacket, then calmly walks out. The entire raid lasts less than 30 seconds.
Shop owner Asia Farooq only realised what happened after checking the footage later that afternoon. By then the thief was long gone.
“I couldn’t believe the cheek of it,” Asia told us. “He didn’t even look nervous. Just took what he wanted and left.”
Small Shops Bearing Brunt of Shoplifting Surge
The incident comes as corner shops across West Lothian report a sharp rise in thefts. Many blame rising food prices and say thieves are becoming bolder.
Fair Price Food Store is a true family business. Asia runs it seven days a week with her husband and young children often helping after school.
Every stolen pack of sausages eats directly into their slim margins.
“It’s not just the cost of the items,” Asia said. “It’s the time we spend checking cameras, filling out police reports, and the stress it puts on us.”
Police Scotland confirmed they have received a report and enquiries are ongoing.
Community Rallies Round “Sausage Gate” Clip
The footage has exploded online, racking up thousands of views on Facebook and WhatsApp groups in Livingston.
Residents are laughing at the sheer audacity while also expressing sympathy for the Farooqs.
One local wrote: “That’s our Asia’s shop! Hope they catch the sausage bandit soon.”
Another added: “Man’s got priorities, stealing milkshakes AND sausages. Legend.”
Some have even started calling it “Sausage Gate” and joking the thief must have been prepping for a monster roll and shake.
Why Thieves Target Family Corner Shops Now
Retail experts say small independent stores have become soft targets.
Unlike big supermarkets with security guards and tagged items, most corner shops rely on CCTV and the hope customers do the right thing.
The British Independent Retailers Association says its members lost £115 million to shoplifting last year, with food and drink the most commonly stolen items.
In Scotland, police recorded more than 38,000 shoplifting offences in 2024-25, the highest figure in a decade.
Many owners feel abandoned, saying response times are slow and prosecutions rare for low-value thefts.
Asia has this message for the thief if he’s reading: “Come back and pay for what you took. We’ll even give you a discount next time. Just don’t steal from us again.”
The hunt for the sausage thief continues. Police are appealing for anyone who recognises the man to get in touch.
Meanwhile, locals say they’ll be keeping an eye out for anyone walking funny with suspicious bulges in their jacket.
Because in Craigshill, nobody messes with the community shop and gets away with it for long.
What do you think of this brazen theft? Have you seen the sausage thief around Livingston? Drop your thoughts below and share this story with #SausageThief if you’re on social media, let’s help Asia and her family get justice the Scottish way.
