Gang of anti-poverty zealots stealing from supermarkets to fill food banks to help the poor

A GANG of self-styled Robin Hoods is stealing from supermarkets to help the poor.

The anti-poverty zealots handed the groceries to a food bank — and vowed to target other stores across the country until the Government meets its food-security demands.

But an MP said: “All this is going to do is push up prices for others.”

Everybody Eats, a group calling for direct action on food poverty, bragged online about its first raid at the M&S Foodhall in Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester.

The group claimed that food banks were aware of where the goods came from and even suggested its members had been asked to steal.

Everybody Eats posted an image of activists alongside five bags of food, including Percy Pig sweets, on X/Twitter.

The group said: “We took food from an M&S without paying for it. It will be distributed to the community and food banks.

“We cannot sit by as we and our friends, our families, our neighbours starve.”

Activists were filmed walking into the M&S to steal the food, which included olive oil, bread, cereal and oat milk, before walking out again unchallenged.

One person in the video says: “Supermarkets make huge profits off rising prices of essential items in this cost-of-living crisis. A lot of their own staff are living in food poverty.

“We’ve been asked by food banks for their help. It’s the right thing to do.”

MP Nigel Mills said: “Being a Robin Hood is not an excuse for theft.

“Supermarkets already donate to food banks and may be able to do less of that with this kind of behaviour. This is a crime, pure and simple.”

M&S said it was working with the police.