Worried I'll be falsely accused of shoplifting

waamo

lily7724 wrote: »

I've had a few experiences in the past of buying (non-refundable) makeup and finding snapped lipsticks, cracked palletes etc. when I get home. So nowadays I sneak makeup into changing rooms and open the sealed boxes so I can quality check before buying.

I did this today at a store on Oxford Street, but found one of foundation boxes was empty inside (presumably someone else had stolen it and returned the box). At the time I panicked about being accused of stealing, so just put the empty box back on the shelf and left as quickly as possible (which I now realise was stupid because they would have just searched me and found no foundation). Now I'm terrified they'll find the box, check CCTV, and identify and locate me from the footage.

Is there anything that can be done at this stage?

If they stop you on existing the shop consider accepting a police caution rather than prosecution. It will be a lot less stressful than trying to convince a magistrate that your story isn't completely of bovine origin.

marblecake

If the foundation had already been stolen, then the box can't have been sealed when you took it off the shelf originally. Why, then, did you need to take it into the changing rooms to check the contents, OP? Also, it would have felt really light when you picked it up, surely?

Comms69

waamo wrote: »

If they stop you on existing the shop consider accepting a police caution rather than prosecution. It will be a lot less stressful than trying to convince a magistrate that your story isn't completely of bovine origin.

A caution can only be offered if the suspect confesses.

waamo

Comms69 wrote: »

A caution can only be offered if the suspect confesses.

Indeed. They may as well as who would believe that an object mysteriously teleported out of a sealed box and vanished in to thin air?

It's not a defence I would want to run with.

Comms69

waamo wrote: »

Indeed. They may as well as who would believe that an object mysteriously teleported out of a sealed box and vanished in to thin air?

It's not a defence I would want to run with.

Sure, I guess my advice would be:


1. Get a free solicitor
2. Tell them the (actual) truth
3. Do as they suggest

NBLondon

Y'know - if I had significant issues with buying items, finding them broken and the shop refusing to do anything about it - I'd change shops...