Accused of Theft In A Shop

[Deleted User]

Today I was in a Bargain Buys Store just after buying some items in a B&M Store less than 50 yards away. I had a shopping trolley (mine for carrying shopping home) with two boxes of noodles amongst other items. I was just about to pay for the items in my basket when I was asked how the noodles had gotten into my trolley. It was fairly embarrassing. I said I bought them in B&M's a few minutes ago. The person standing beside the till persisted with 'but we have these in this store' pointing to the noodle boxes. I said "I don't care, I bought these from B&Ms". Fortunately I was able to find the receipt and prove it. Obviously they weren't really high value items.

But what if I hadn't?

I said to the person I was speaking to that they had questioned me in front of a number of people, and unless someone in the store had seen me put the items in my trolley from their shelves, they did not have cause to think I had stolen them.

Are they allowed to question me without any evidence I had stolen the items.., except for the fact that these noodles were in my shopping trolley? There is a store that sells obviously very similiar items 50 yards away. I can't be the only person to have bought items from one store, then go to another store that sells similar items.

I am sure it will seem like nothing to most, but I feel quite vulnerable to this happening again. Being accused of theft in front of a queue full of people.

As I said.., what if I hadn't had a receipt? I quite often get hassled when co-ordinating putting stuff away, putting money away, paying for items.., acknowledging what the till person is saying and quite often lose receipts.

Will writing to the store in question and asking that people aren't stopped without actual proof of theft (being seen removing items from shelves and putting them in their basket) do any good. Are they supposed to have proof before questioning customers?

Obviously I won't be going in there again. I didn't argue loudly or anything or get rude, but it was quite distressing.

Mr.Generous

I would say put your shopping in a bag before going into another shop that sells the same thing. If you can't do that show a member of staff your goods and receipt when you enter. Don't put yourself in this position.

If you have goods they sell in a trolley they are going to expect you to pay. Think of it this way, I go in and buy 20 packs of noodles from B&M, put them in my car boot then go into the next shop and turn up at the till with another 20 packs in my trolley. I have a receipt so therefore unless they saw me take them from the shelf .... Its a regular theft scam, passing receipt, switching trolleys, there are a number of variations. You have to see it from both sides. Easy thing is use a bag for life.

[Deleted User]

I have a shopping trolley because i have arthritis and back problems. The trolley was full. I couldn't have put the items I purchased in several shops in bags and fitted them in the trolley. I didn't really fancy making several bus journeys to and from the shops just to avoid being questioned as to whether I had stolen the items lol.

I also don't feel I should have to chase staff over a store (there are never many, why these stores are cheap) to say I had these items before I walked in the store, showing them my receipts. Does this person then follow to the tills? It sort of seems to be going a bit far. And is almost as embarrassing! Do you do this?

I hear what you are saying, but I do feel that unless they had proof I had removed items from their shelves and put them in my trolley, they should not have asked what two items out of tens that were there, were doing in my trolley. I did not even notice that these items were also in stock at the Bargain Buy store.

PS I don't have a car so can't keep bouncing back and forth to a car lol.

bazzyb

Mr.Generous wrote: »

Easy thing is use a bag for life.

How would using a bag for life be any different? If they saw the item in their bag instead of in their trolley it would have presumably resulted in the exact same situation?

agrinnall

They seem to have a Facebook profile, you could post about your experience on there to see if that gets a response.

POPPYOSCAR

You cannot expect the store to know you had already bought them.

It is good they asked you.

I remember when Toys r us first opened you were not allowed to take shopping in the store with you and had to leave your bags in lockers.

Just remember that theft from shops affects the prices we all pay.

AmoUK

I agree with the 1st comment, if in that situation, declare the goods on entry to a staff member or security person.

Obviously in time it would have been proven, one way or another, that you had bought and paid for the goods at neighbouring store. But the declaration on entry, even asking to leave the bag/trolley with them, will spare trouble.

powerful_Rogue

deannatrois wrote: »

Are they allowed to question me without any evidence I had stolen the items.., except for the fact that these noodles were in my shopping trolley? There is a store that sells obviously very similiar items 50 yards away. I can't be the only person to have bought items from one store, then go to another store that sells similar items.

Of course they can ask you. Likewise, you can refuse to answer.

If you did refuse to answer, whether they would call the police, ban you from the store or just leave to to go on your way is anyones guess.

Valli

It doesn't sound, to me, like you were actually 'accused', but that you were asked about items in your trolley. As has been said, if they'd been inside a bag inside your trolley they wouldn't have been visible.

Yes it is embarrassing, just as when you're searched because a security alarm has gone off when the SA hasn't deactivated the circuit thing.

Unfortunately, while people continue to shoplift, we're all under suspicion.

[Deleted User]

I do hear you all, but I do want to check if a store has to have seen you put items in your bag/trolley, before they can start accusing you of theft.

Obviously my position is that although they were asking how items had got into my shopping trolley, this was them accusing me of theft, of not paying for the goods before placing them in my shopping trolley. Don't they have to have cause?

If they don't, this could happen anytime in a shop.., and that makes me very uneasy indeed. I didn't even know the shop had these items in their store and could be a cause of being accused of theft. The shop is quite large and has many thousands of items. The thought of having to go to someone every time I go into a store to verify I already had the items (not knowing what the new store also stocks) on me just seems a bit OTT (and I avoid talking to people at the best of times). Then they've got to communicate with till staff that I've done this to prevent me being accused of theft?

I find shopping quite difficult anyway (bit autistic) and no I don't have anyone to go with tme. I guess I'll be doing no more big shops and put everything into bags so it can't be seen by til staff. And somehow make sure I don't get harrassed and remember to put receipts into a wallet. Wish this hadn't happened.

ARandomMiser

Something similar happened my partner. She got a bit 'sharp' with the sales assistant but by the time she left the shop she was absolutely fuming. I was with her and asked why she was so annoyed and it was because she felt she was being accused of something. The reality was that she picked up the conversation incorrectly and focused on the wrong thing.

The actual conversation was more like
Assistant: (politely,pointing to items in basket) Do I need to ring those items through?
Partner: (quite sharpish) No, I bought those elsewhere
Assistant: (politely) Ah we sell them too?
Partner (even sharper) What are you saying (hauls out receipt) there - you see?
Assistant: (looks at me as if to say 'what the hell just happened' and I roll my eyes)

For some reason my partner had got very defensive over nothing - simply because she assumed she was being accused of something when she wasn't.