Tesco Shoplifting - need help.

mickaveli2001

whiteswan wrote: »

Hi

Need a bit of advice.

Went in to my local Tesco this morning to purchase some magazines, look at sound bars and also look at some clothing.

Got my magazines........went onto look at soundbars but none with HDMI inputs on them - heading over to the clothing and I felt light headed (I am on Lyrica as I suffer from Fibromyalgia and had taken that mornings tablet without food - a big no no ) - so I headed to the cafe - purchased a breakfast - paid and ate it - went to loo and then left the store whilst pre occupied on my mobile phone with a matter at work........

At this point a Security Guard tapped me on the shoulder and asked me to step back inside the store - I was a bit dumb founded but agreed - within 5 seconds I realised I had not paid for the magazines ! I said this to the guard and said I will go and pay for them and apologised........he said I should follow him (to a checkout I thought)......it became apparent he was walking me off the shop floor - I protested but he said I was under arrest and that I HAD to follow him.........so I did - after all it was an honest mistake.

Going to cut a very long story short - but they refused to let me pay and be on my way - had to wait over an hour for Police to attend - when the officer did attend they tried to tell him that I rolled up the magazines and tried to conceal them in my coat proving intent to steal. I politely requested the officer view the cctv there and then to prove that was not the case.......it proved my version of events truthful.

They then went on to ask why I got the magazines and then went upstairs to the Cafe - so I explained........they said this proved intent to steal - luckily the Police Officer disagreed - said that there would be No Further Action as far as the Police were involved (I think the fact I had £400 cash from my business on myself helped ) - the staff then said I was barred from Tesco for 12 months and asked me to leave the premises.

I am left all a bit confused by todays events - to add insult to injury they have removed my Tesco Clubcard from me - their reason was that as I had been "caught" stealing I wouldn't need it..........

I fully support stores prosecuting shoplifters where there is "intent to steal - but where is the allowance for "honest" mistakes - or does such a thing not exist ?

Before anybody starts - I am not after compensation - but I am upset I have been branded a thief !

Annoyed, upset and confused are my feelings at the moment.

I will say that even though I own my own company I do not dress in a 3 piece suit etc..............due to the Fibromyalgia I was wearing jogging bottoms, t shirt and hooded coat and trainers (I cannot manage buttons or fasteners of any kind) ..........in fact when I explained I owned my own company they "sniggered" at myself.........

Do I have any redress ?

Dave

Under arrest? He has no such authority to do so. He is working for a private company.


I'm glad your barred for 12 months. Hopefully you make it a lifetime decision to boycott this ridiculous company. Hiring "guards" who chase hungry people stealing sandwiches is a company better off in the black

swingaloo

whiteswan wrote: »

Wow I thought we'd finished with
It was 3 magazines - they were in my hand NOT rolled up under my arm or concealed anywhere about my person - in my hand in plain sight.

Which should have made it less likely you would forget to pay.

I did not forget they were there.......I knew at all points I had the magazines.............I forgot that I had not paid for them - silly but true. An "honest" mistake if there is such a thing.........although I do concur stock loss is stock loss and should be policed. It was a combination of not feeling too well and being distracted by a work matter. As for inventing an illness just to avoid shoplifting charges .....well I'll leave that one with the people that suggested it - walk a day in my shoes is all I can reply to that.

Most shoplifters tend to use this argument.

I may have realised I had not paid for them when I got home - in which case I would have telephoned the store and explained and hopefully made payment over the phone - but in all honesty I can't say when or if I would of realised.

Again, that is frequently said.



If I was "arrested" then why was I not told why - this may seem a silly thing to say as I realised what I had done after a few seconds of being tapped on the shoulder - but surely it should have been clearly stated why the Police were being called and why I was being detained.

You would have been told that they believed you had items on which you had not paid for.


Why was I not asked for an explanation of my actions ?

You would not have been asked for an explanation whilst still on the shop floor.


Why was I not asked if I had the money on me to pay for them ?

That would be irrelevant, most shoplifters actually have more than enough cash to pay for the goods.


Why did the security person lie about me concealing the magazines - he even made a gesture to the policeman that I had put them inside my jacket - it was at this point I asked for the cctv footage to be reviewed by the Police Officer.

When you are stopped on suspicion of shoplifting at Tesco it is not just one person who has watched you and suspected you. There are multiple cameras and operators who liaise with each other the moment you look suspicious and watch you throughout your visit. Many shoplifters pick up an item and then lose their bottle and put the item down somewhere else so thy watch you to ensure the items you have picked up are not put down again before you leave the store.


Why was I sniggered at when I stated that I owned my own business - this was personally annoying to myself and in my eyes not professional at all.

Most people when accused react in 2 ways- 1 is to break down in tears, the other is to go into 'Do you know who I am' mode
and declare they they are wealthy, dont need to shoplift, have their own shop, have an high ranking job etc and the number who have an illness requiring medication is astonishing.


In my eyes it was because I was dressed in trackies and a hooded coat - but this is pure assumption on my part,

There are probably more 'wealthy looking' shoplifters than hoodie types.


when the Police Officer asked if I had the money on me to pay for the items and I stated that I had the previous nights takings of over £400 on me you could see the look of amazement on the security guys faces.

As said before they would not be 'amazed' that you had so much money on you. Some people have literally hundreds and yet will walk out without paying for a Mars Bar.


What you must realise is that 'most' people accused do exactly what you are doing and get righteous declaring they have more than enough money etc in order to justify whats happened.

You would be better to keep away from Tesco, be glad it was not taken further and move on.

Stevie_Palimo

mickaveli2001 wrote: »

Under arrest? He has no such authority to do so. He is working for a private company.


I'm glad your barred for 12 months. Hopefully you make it a lifetime decision to boycott this ridiculous company. Hiring "guards" who chase hungry people stealing sandwiches is a company better off in the black

I must say your post here is simply stupid.


A: He can make a citizens arrest as can anyone which will be what happened but the OP glossed over this point.


B: Stealing is a crime and there is no justification for it whatsoever and your comment above is about as daft as they come.


In summery here I believe you would be better off posting on a forum dedicated to people of an average age of 5 as they may listen to you more than people here would.

tomtontom

mickaveli2001 wrote: »

Under arrest? He has no such authority to do so. He is working for a private company.


I'm glad your barred for 12 months. Hopefully you make it a lifetime decision to boycott this ridiculous company. Hiring "guards" who chase hungry people stealing sandwiches is a company better off in the black

Eh? Where do sandwiches and hunger come into it? Are you saying the OP didn't pay for his breakfast either? :rotfl:

pulliptears

My cousin was diagnosed with MS a while back and whilst in the fog of her diagnosis and the general upset of her life managed to walk out of Tesco with a trolley full of goods. She was in a world of her own and just wandered to the doors. More embarrassing for her was that both her and her DH work for Tesco and, just to put the final touch to it her DH happened to be the security guard at that branch.

To say she was embarrassed was an understatement, and she still gets ribbed about it now by friends and colleagues alike, but sometimes we aren't firing on all cylinders.

swingaloo

Beats me though how people are well enough to get to the Supermarket and alert enough to get all the items they need but then ,dizzy and disorganised' enough to forget to pay.

JReacher1

pulliptears wrote: »

My cousin was diagnosed with MS a while back and whilst in the fog of her diagnosis and the general upset of her life managed to walk out of Tesco with a trolley full of goods. She was in a world of her own and just wandered to the doors. More embarrassing for her was that both her and her DH work for Tesco and, just to put the final touch to it her DH happened to be the security guard at that branch.

To say she was embarrassed was an understatement, and she still gets ribbed about it now by friends and colleagues alike, but sometimes we aren't firing on all cylinders.

I wonder if she hadn't worked for Tesco whether a similar thing would have happened to your cousin as happened to the OP?

pulliptears

JReacher1 wrote: »

I wonder if she hadn't worked for Tesco whether a similar thing would have happened to your cousin as happened to the OP?

At the time, I doubt it. This was a few years ago and she was clearly ill and struggling at the time. Back then Tesco security in that particular store were in house and a decent bunch of lads who were fair and good at their jobs.
Today? Who knows, the in house team have been replaced with G4S who aren't really as sympathetic or willing to listen. Things tend to be more black and white with them.

jaydeeuk1

Nick_C wrote: »

I disagree. I think the best advice is to start ordering on line and getting home deliveries. No chance of you forgetting to pay for something again. If you were to have a further innocent memory lapse, you may find the Police might not be so lenient a second time.

But then you get someone like me pretending to be a 'new' customer every Thursday to get £20 off their shopping. Is that worse then the OP's offence?

wealdroam

jaydeeuk1 wrote: »

But then you get someone like me pretending to be a 'new' customer every Thursday to get £20 off their shopping. Is that worse then the OP's offence?

No, it is not.