Accused of Theft In A Shop

Billy_Bullocks

hollydays wrote: »

I'm sure others can come forward and explain this way n more detail, I'm going out now But the law in this area talks about " "appropriating property belonging to another " and clearly if the customer hasn't been seen picking up the item, the staff can not be sure that the items in question belong to ' their' shop and vigilant action is not recommended.
Deanna you are absolutely correct that they should not have done what they did.

This is very basic law.

They are fully entitled to ask the question.

Thunderbird4

hollydays wrote: »

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

They are fully entitled to ask the question.[/QUOT
That's a recipe for bad pr in the press , and having to pay out money.

If I go into marks and Spencer's, and as I'm paying, they see into my
Handbag, and there's a m& s lipstick sticking out-would I expect them to say " how did that get in there?"
I think not.

I think if they saw a brand new, unwrapped M&S lipstick in your handbag they probably would ask how it got there.

hollydays

Thunderbird4 wrote: »

hollydays wrote: »

I think if they saw a brand new, unwrapped M&S lipstick in your handbag they probably would ask how it got there.

I've deleted that post to repost as I made a mess of the quote, I'll do it slightly clearer a second time .

hollydays

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

They are fully entitled to ask the question.

So if I went onto marks and spencer and while I was at the till, they saw into my handbag and there was a marks and Spencer's lipstick in there, it's ok to say" how did that get in there?"
I think not..

hollydays

Lipsticks don't come wrapped .women carry various items of makeup in their bags, so potentially we should all carry all our receipts around ?
Don't know many women who are afraid to go out with a makeup bag and contents.
These theories are falling apart..
Being in possession of a new item , or one that is sold by a particular shop isn't grounds to question a customer-how ludicrous

Billy_Bullocks

hollydays wrote: »

So if I went onto marks and spencer and while I was at the till, they saw into my handbag and there was a marks and Spencer's lipstick in there, it's ok to say" how did that get in there?"
I think not..

It's a free country, there's nothing stopping them. If you don't like it shop elsewhere.

Lazarus_Blackstar

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

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.

It was exactly the same with Tradex cash & carry when they were around many years ago.
I remember when my S-I-L had a go with them because she had her baby daughter with her at the time and she was told to leave her bag and baby bag in a locker.
You can see the arguments on both sides though.

hollydays

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

It's a free country, there's nothing stopping them. If you don't like it shop elsewhere.[/QUOTE

Really?
Can you provide some links ?
I've looked at various police directives for stores -nowhere can I see " ask the suspect how the item got in their bag if you see something that might be your stock" as one of the things to do to prevent theft.
I've not seen " it's a free country , shop elsewhere "
on the statute

Billy_Bullocks

hollydays wrote: »

Billy_Bullocks wrote: »

It's a free country, there's nothing stopping them. If you don't like it shop elsewhere.

Really?
Can you provide some links ?
I've looked at various police directives for stores -nowhere can I see " ask the suspect how the item got on their bag", as one of the things to do to prevent theft.
I've not seen " it's a free country , shop elsewhere "
on the statute

Once you've learnt how to quote, maybe you can quote a law that says they can't.

George_Michael

In the UK at least, laws are generally written to state what is prohibited rather than what is allowed so if it is indeed the case that a store employee isn't entitled to ask a customer how something got into their bag, this restriction would be written into legislation somewhere.

There is nothing whatsoever stopping a store detective, store cashier or anyone else for that matter asking a customer a question such as "did you steal that item?" (not that this is what happened in this case)
Actually accusing someone by saying "you stole that item" is different and a comment such as that could well have repercussions.