STAFF at Greggs in Central Parade have been suspended after bosses set up cameras and caught them taking food home without paying.
One worker described how she had been disciplined after being seen on CCTV taking four cakes which were destined for the bin.
Greggs would not confirm or deny claims up to nine staff had been disciplined because it is not company policy to comment on "internal matters".
But the Advertiser understands staff are forbidden from taking food home, as it is viewed as stealing by the baking chain.
Concern first surfaced when a member of New Addington Pathfinders asked on the community group's Facebook page: "What happened to the nice ladies behind the counter in Greggs?"
One, who claims to have worked at the branch for two years, replied: "I was one of the ones who got suspended because I took like four cakes home and they had CCTV fitted in and didn't say anything to the staff.
"If we knew the CCTV was there we would still take some of the stuff but not so much of it."
The post received more than 50 replies, many in support of the staff.
Chris Gunn wrote: "The thing is, would you like the food to get wasted and just chucked away, or people taking it home and actually eating it?
"I think it's so stupid and Greggs won't be the same without the proper staff."
Hollie Warda wrote: "I used to work in Wetherspoons and we were allowed to take the stuff, either left over or on its last day, home as it was better than wasting it. I don't see why they have been suspended."
Emma Fisher wrote: "I don't care what anyone says I liked all of them in there. Greggs have done this to get out of whatever mess they're in and haven't taken the locals views into consideration."
But Wendy Strong said: "A few cakes here and there? You've only got to do the math to work out over a year you're looking at thousands of pounds, particularly if every member of staff did the same."
Staff at the shop were this week tight-lipped about the situation.
