Sacked for stealing my OWN equipment back

ACG

I cant see the police being interested. Trespassing is unlikely as you worked there, you had not been told to enter the property again (I assume) so it was reasonable for you to expect to be allowed on the property.

I used to work in the city centre and sometimes I would leave things in my desk, £10-20 for example. More than a few times I would rock in to work at 3am drunk (I was 18-19) and get my money as I had spent up and needed money to get home. I did not have permission to go in to the office at 3am, but at the same time I had not been told I couldnt.

You took your property.

Your boss is clutching at straws.

If you want to take it to a tribunal for unfair dismissal, I would crack on with it. No idea whether or not you would win, but I cant see he has anything over you personally.

Undervalued

MrFlipflop wrote: »

To be totally honest I'm not bothered about going back there, I don't want to work for such a deceitful person. But obviously I'm going to need a reference and obviously I'm not sure if the Police can do something against me yet? (Plus do I want to risk asking the potential snitch for a reference instead of the boss?!?)

Except in a few regulated occupations nobody can force your employer to provide a reference.

Even if you were to successfully make a claim for unfair dismissal and win compensation it is not in the tribunal's power to order the employer to provide a reference.

So, if the reference is important the only way to ensure one is to make an agreed form of words part of a legally binding settlement agreement (or a COT 3 agreement reached via ACAS).

Even if that were to be agreed, along with clauses saying that they were not to speak ill of you (and normally vica versa) it is still very difficult to police the grape vine, off the record phone call etc.

James1968

It is worth taking this to ET as it costs nothing. I took a former employer to ET and when they realised I actually had a genuine case, they made me an out of court settlement.

lindens

If not in a union I would phone ACAS for advice

Valli

Does your home insurance come with legal cover?

And, by any chance, did you have this equipment separately insured? That would be further evidence that you're the owner.