dismissed for stealing

Gas_Powered_Toothbrush

jacques_chirac wrote: »

And when the shop keeper calls the police?

They have a nice quiet chat with the police, and offers them the chance to drop the charges in exchange for letting go of their balls.

Or maybe they're just an internet hardman.

jobbingmusician

Can I just point out that in a way your nephew WAS stealing. This is not to make you feel bad, or to be self-righteous, but so that you can think about it and prepare a defence. 'For some reason he decided to buy a scratch card' during working time for which he was being paid. The employer could translate this as 'for some reason he decided to stop working, and gamble instead, in the employer's time'.

Now for what I hope is the better news. You state that he was alone in the shop, and knowing the ways shops operate, I wouldn't be surprised if he was alone all day, for a period of more than 6 hours. My understanding is that this is contrary to employment law, which states that he MUST have a break of at least 20 mins if working for more than 6 hours. So if the employer DOES bring up the argument above, your nephew has an automatic defence - he was on a break, since there was no-one in the shop. This defence might also strengthen his initial stance that he didn't steal from the till - he was having a break when the shop was deserted, and became a customer rather than a staff member. OK, it's not a great defence, but I can't think that leaving an apprentice alone in the shop all day is great practice either. Apprentices make mistakes, that's why they are apprentices!

I don't actually understand how the shopkeeper know that all this happened, if the till balanced as it should have done. Was all this recorded on CCTV?

VitaK

It could be that there was a balance and because of that, the shop owner decided to watch the CCTV recordings. It would look very suspicious if he saw him take something out the the cash register and put it straight in hes pocket.

uknick

There must be more to this then the OP has been told.

The nephew takes a ticket, uses it, pays for it and then takes his winnings. How did the shop owner know this happened if the till has the correct money in it and nobody else was in the shop?

adouglasmhor

He shouldn't have been playing scratch cards at work either TBH. I would have sacked him for that if he did it during his first week anyway. Tell him to learn a lesson from it and find something else.

Mulder00

fordfocus-chav-car wrote: »

He was working on is own on Sunday, the shop was dead & for some reason he decided to buy a scratch card, which he scratched put £1 in the till & then scanned it.

You mean he decided to take a scratch card.

Andy_L

uknick wrote: »

There must be more to this then the OP has been told.

The nephew takes a ticket, uses it, pays for it and then takes his winnings.

I think the problem may be that he scratched the card before paying for it.

fruitedeli

jobbingmusician wrote: »

Can I just point out that in a way your nephew WAS stealing. This is not to make you feel bad, or to be self-righteous, but so that you can think about it and prepare a defence. 'For some reason he decided to buy a scratch card' during working time for which he was being paid. The employer could translate this as 'for some reason he decided to stop working, and gamble instead, in the employer's time'.

Now for what I hope is the better news. You state that he was alone in the shop, and knowing the ways shops operate, I wouldn't be surprised if he was alone all day, for a period of more than 6 hours. My understanding is that this is contrary to employment law, which states that he MUST have a break of at least 20 mins if working for more than 6 hours. So if the employer DOES bring up the argument above, your nephew has an automatic defence - he was on a break, since there was no-one in the shop. This defence might also strengthen his initial stance that he didn't steal from the till - he was having a break when the shop was deserted, and became a customer rather than a staff member. OK, it's not a great defence, but I can't think that leaving an apprentice alone in the shop all day is great practice either. Apprentices make mistakes, that's why they are apprentices!

I don't actually understand how the shopkeeper know that all this happened, if the till balanced as it should have done. Was all this recorded on CCTV?

Not a great defense because scratch cards are kept behind the tills, and customers are not supposed to have access to them, or access to opening the till drawers. Even if he authorised himself a break, he can't simultaneously act as an employee, go behind the till, take the scratch card, and then operate the till while he's a customer.

colino

I don't know of any proper retail environment when sales aren't one of the first things covered and as no doubt there would be staff discount involved, you're never allowed to make a transaction by yourself. He should grovel to the shopkeeper for his job back (if the lad showed any potential he is much less likely to be daft again) or pretend, unless directly asked by a future potential employer, the thing ever happened. Otherwise once a thief, always a thief.

yvonne13_2

fordfocus-chav-car wrote: »

My Nephew started work in a local shop about a week ago.
He went back to work yesterday & was sacked on the spot for stealing.

He was working on is own on Sunday, the shop was dead & for some reason he decided to buy a scratch card, which he scratched put £1 in the till & then scanned it. He had won his £1 back on the card, so put it through and collected is £1 back.
I know the lad very well...he may act daft at times but he would not steal.

He as on a apprenticeship at the shop & he thinks its ruined is chances of getting another.

Should I have a chat with the owner of the shop ?

Sorry OP but the event's which your nephew has told told you if correct is classed as theft.
He took a scratch card and scratched it before paying, so yeah that's theft.
Why would he put the £1 in the till? He had already knew he won it so it appears he just scanned the card simple as.